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Highly pathogenic avian influenza, United States of America Information received on 15/01/2016 from Dr John Clifford, Deputy Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, United States of AmericaSummaryReport typeImmediate notificationDate of start of the event11/01/2016Date of confirmation of the event15/01/2016Report date15/01/2016Date submitted to OIE15/01/2016Reason for notificationReoccurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence2015Manifestation of diseaseClinical diseaseCausal agentHighly pathogenic avian influenza virusSerotypeH7N8Nature of diagnosisLaboratory (advanced)This event pertains toa defined zone within the countryNew outbreaks (1)Outbreak 1Dubois County, Dubois, INDIANADate of start of the outbreak11/01/2016Outbreak statusContinuing (or date resolved not provided)Epidemiological unitFarmAffected animalsSpeciesSusceptibleCasesDeathsDestroyedSlaughteredBirds43500 900426000Affected populationCommercial turkey flockSummary of outbreaksTotal outbreaks: 1Total animals affectedSpeciesSusceptibleCasesDeathsDestroyedSlaughteredBirds43500**900426000Outbreak statisticsSpeciesApparent morbidity rateApparent mortality rateApparent case fatality rateProportion susceptible animals lost*Birds**2.07%**100.00%*Removed from the susceptible population through death, destruction and/or slaughter**Not calculated because of missing informationEpidemiologySource of the outbreak(s) or origin of infectionUnknown or inconclusiveEpidemiological commentsAs part of existing avian influenza response plans, the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), in conjunction with the Indiana State Board of Animal Health, are conducting a comprehensive epidemiological investigation in the nearby area, and have begun enhanced surveillance and testing in the area. State officials have quarantined the affected premises and implemented movement controls. Depopulation of birds on the premises is under way. The highly pathogenic H7N8 strain is of North America lineage. Control measuresMeasures appliedMovement control inside the countryQuarantineSurveillance outside containment and/or protection zoneStamping outSurveillance within containment and/or protection zoneZoningVaccination prohibitedNo treatment of affected animalsMeasures to be appliedDisinfection / DisinfestationOfficial disposal of carcasses, by-products and wasteDiagnostic test resultsLaboratory name and typeSpeciesTestTest dateResultNational Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) (National laboratory)Birdsreal-time reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR)15/01/2016PositiveNational Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) (National laboratory)Birdsvirus isolation PendingNational Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) (National laboratory)Birdsvirus sequencing15/01/2016PositiveFuture ReportingThe event is continuing. Weekly follow-up reports will be submitted.Map of outbreak locations

OIE report on Dubois County Indiana H7N8 outbreak. http://www.oie.int/wahis_2/public/wahid.php/Reviewreport/Review?page_refer=MapFullEventReport&reportid=19540

Avian Flu Spreading, Nearly A Quarter Million Birds AffectedBy NETWORK INDIANAPosted January 18, 2016 Indiana ranks fourth in the nation in turkey production. Photo: Courtesy: Governor Pence Press Office Governor Mike Pence joins state and local officials Saturday to speak with local media following the briefing at the Unified Incident Command center in Jasper, Indiana. At least ten commercial turkey farms in the Dubois County area have now tested positive for avian flu. The total number of birds affected totaled 240,900. An estimated 119,500 birds have been euthanized on four premises. “Any movement off this farm of birds has stopped,” says Denise Derrer, with the Indiana State Board of Animal Health. “These birds are going to be depopulated as part of the requirement under international trade agreements. and so that is kind of the protocol for this disease so it doesn’t move any farther.” The control area is primarily in Dubois County, and has expanded to include parts of Crawford, Daviess, Martin and Orange counties. All infected sites are in Dubois County. Dubois County is Indiana’s largest turkey-producing county, growing 1.4 million birds annually. Health officials say Avian influenza does not present a food safety risk. “Your poultry products are safe,” says Derrer. “Your eggs are safe. Chicken, turkey, just keep eating it, it’s not a human health risk and certainly not a food safety risk.” Governor Mike Pence toured the area Saturday and said the focus right now is a “multi-agency” effort to stop the spread of the disease and work on containment. “The poultry industry is vital to Indiana and we are bringing all necessary resources to deal with this situation,” said Pence. Indiana ranks fourth in the nation in turkey production. This is the first time a commercial flock in Indiana has ever received bird flu. http://indianapublicmedia.org/news/avian-flu-spreading-quarter-million-birds-affected-92427/

State Responds To Avian Flu In Dubois CountyUpdated January 18, 2016 6:34 AM | Filed under: Agriculture Print Archive RSS(DUBOIS CO.) - United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed the pathogenicity of eight of the nine H7N8 avian influenza detections announced on January 16. Eight flocks have been confirmed as low pathogenic avian influenza, with additional testing ongoing for the ninth. There were no new positive tests overnight, but aggressive testing continues inside the 10-km control area. In the last 24 hours, commercial farms have yielded an additional 100 negative tests for avian influenza. State and federal teams have visited 503 residences in the control area to identify any small flocks for testing. Tests are pending on 17 small flocks. Confirmed cases of Avian Flu have been found in Dubois County. State, local and federal agencies are working together on containment and depopulation operations. An estimated 119,500 birds have been humanely euthanized on four premises, with another six premises containing approximately 121,400 birds currently underway. The control area is primarily in Dubois County, and has expanded to include parts of Crawford, Daviess, Martin and Orange counties. All infected sites are in Dubois County. STATE RESPONSE A Unified Incident Command Post (UCP) has been established in Jasper, Indiana. The post is staffed by a state Incident Management Team, along with federal and local partners. State Agencies supporting activities in the UCP: The State Board of Animal Health, Indiana State Department of Agriculture, Indiana Department of Homeland Security, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Indiana State Department of Health, Indiana Department of Environmental Management, Indiana Department of Correction, Indiana State Police and mental health services teams from the Family and Social Services Administration. Other organizations supporting activities in the UCP: United States Department of Agriculture, Indiana University, Dubois County Emergency Management Agency and Dubois County Health Department and the Indiana Civil Air Patrol. State Emergency Operations Center: Under the leadership of the Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS), the Indiana Emergency Operations Center (EOC) has been activated at Level III and will remain activated 24 hours a day to monitor conditions and provide resource support to local county emergency agencies. State Agencies supporting activities in the EOC: State Board of Animal Health, Indiana Department of Homeland Security, Indiana State Department of Health, Indiana Department of Transportation, Indiana Department of Environmental Management, Indiana State Police, Indiana Department of Natural Resources and Indiana Department of Correction. FEDERAL RESPONSE The United States Department of Agriculture has approximately 50 representatives, along with private contractors, in Dubois County assisting with state and local efforts. A National Incident Management Team will be arriving in Indiana this weekend to help coordinate efforts. PUBLIC ADVISORIES Avian influenza does not present a food safety risk; poultry and eggs are safe to eat. Officials are not aware of any public health significance with this virus. Human infection from an H7 virus is uncommon, but can cause some conjunctivitis and/or upper respiratory tract symptoms. Human health agencies will be monitoring workers and others in contact with birds to monitor for illness. Backyard poultry owners are encouraged to be aware of the signs of avian influenza and report illness and/or death to the USDA Healthy Birds Hotline: 866-536-7593. Callers will be routed to a state or federal veterinarian in Indiana for a case assessment. Dead birds should be double-bagged and refrigerated for possible testing. Signs include: sudden death without clinical signs; lack of energy or appetite; decreased egg production; soft-shelled or misshapen eggs; swelling or purple discoloration of head, eyelids, comb, hocks; nasal discharge; coughing; sneezing; lack of coordination; and diarrhea. A great resource for backyard bird health information is online at: www.healthybirds.aphis.usda.gov. Situation updates and status reports about ongoing avian influenza activities, along with critical disease-related information, will be posted online at: www.in.gov/boah/2390.htm. Users may subscribe to email updates on a link at that page. http://www.wbiw.com/local/archive/2016/01/state-response-to-avian-flu-in-dubois-county.php

Published Date: 2016-01-18 00:28:50Subject: PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (08): USA (IN) poultry, HPAI revised to LPAI H7N8, update Archive Number: 20160118.3944747 AVIAN INFLUENZA (08): USA (INDIANA) POULTRY, HPAI REVISED TO LPAI H7N8, UPDATE******************************************************************************A ProMED-mail posthttp://www.promedmail.orgProMED-mail is a program of theInternational Society for Infectious Diseaseshttp://www.isid.orgDate: Sun 17 Jan 2015Source: USDA [edited]https://www.aphis.usda.gov/wps/portal/aphis/home/!ut/p/a1/04_Sj9CPykssy0xPLMnMz0vMAfGjzOK9_D2MDJ0MjDz9vT3NDDz9woIMnDxcDA2CjYEKIoEKDHAARwNC-sP1o8BKnN0dPUzMfYB6TCyMDDxdgPLmlr4GBp5mUAV4rCjIjTDIdFRUBADp5_lR/?1dmy&urile=wcm%3Apath%3A%2Faphis_content_library%2Fsa_newsroom%2Fsa_news%2Fsa_by_date%2Fnewsroom-2016%2Fnewsroom-january-2016%2Fct_hpai_indiana_low_pathUpdate on H7 Avian Influenza Cases in Indiana, Additional Flocks Now Confirmed as Low Pathogenic / Cases Found Through Surveillance Testing in Initial Control Area---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Andrea McNally (202)[email protected] Cole (970)[email protected] United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed the pathogenicity of eight of the nine H7N8 avian influenza detections announced on January 16. The turkey flocks have been confirmed as low pathogenic avian influenza, with additional testing ongoing for the ninth flock.These January 16 detections were identified as part of surveillance testing in the control area surrounding the initial highly pathogenic H7N8 avian influenza (HPAI) case in that state, identified on January 15.The pathogenicity of a virus refers to its ability to produce disease. Birds with low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) often show no signs of infection or only have minor symptoms. HPAI viruses spread quickly and cause high mortality in domestic poultry. H7 LPAI viruses have been known to mutate into HPAI viruses in the past."It appears that there was a low pathogenic virus circulating in the poultry population in this area, and that virus likely mutated into a highly pathogenic virus in one flock," said Dr. John Clifford, USDA Chief Veterinarian. "Through cooperative industry, state and federal efforts, we were able to quickly identify and isolate the highly pathogenic case, and depopulate that flock. Together, we are also working to stop further spread of the LPAI virus, and will continue aggressive testing on additional premises within the expanded control area to ensure any additional cases of either HPAI or LPAI are identified and controlled quickly."APHIS continues to work closely with the Indiana State Board of Animal Health and the affected poultry industry on a joint incident response. State officials quarantined the additional affected premises and depopulation of birds has already begun. Depopulation prevents the spread of the disease. Birds from the flock will not enter the food system.No human infections associated with avian influenza A viruses of this particular subtype (i.e., H7N8) have ever been reported. As a reminder, the proper handling and cooking of poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165 ˚F kills bacteria and viruses, including HPAI.As part of existing avian influenza response plans, Federal and State partners continue to work on additional surveillance and testing in the nearby area. No new presumptive cases have been identified since January 16.The rapid testing and response in this incident is the result of months of planning with local, state, federal and industry partners to ensure the most efficient and effective coordination. Since the previous HPAI detections in 2015, APHIS and its state and industry partners have learned valuable lessons to help implement stronger preparedness and response capabilities. In September, APHIS published a HPAI Preparedness and Response Plan that captures the results of this planning effort, organizing information on preparatory activities, policy decisions and updated strategy documents.The United States has the strongest AI surveillance program in the world, and USDA is working with its partners to actively look for the disease in commercial poultry operations, live bird markets and in migratory wild bird populations.Anyone involved with poultry production, from the small backyard to the large commercial producer, should review their biosecurity activities to assure the health of their birds. To facilitate such a review, a biosecurity self-assessment and educational materials can be found at http://www.uspoultry.org/animal_husbandry/intro.cfmIn addition to practicing good biosecurity, all bird owners should prevent contact between their birds and wild birds and report sick birds or unusual bird deaths to State/Federal officials, either through their state veterinarian or through USDA's toll-free number at 1-866-536-7593. Additional information on biosecurity for backyard flocks can be found at http://healthybirds.aphis.usda.gov.Additional backgroundAvian influenza (AI) is caused by an influenza type A virus which can infect poultry (such as chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, domestic ducks, geese and guinea fowl) and is carried by free flying waterfowl such as ducks, geese and shorebirds. AI viruses are classified by a combination of two groups of proteins: hemagglutinin or "H" proteins, of which there are 16 (H1-H16), and neuraminidase or "N" proteins, of which there are 9 (N1-N9). Many different combinations of "H" and "N" proteins are possible. Each combination is considered a different subtype, and can be further broken down into different strains. AI viruses are further classified by their pathogenicity (low or high)-- the ability of a particular virus strain to produce disease in domestic chickens.--Communicated by:ProMED-mail <[email protected]>******[2]Date: Sun 17 Jan 2015Source: Indiana State Board of Animal Health [edited]http://www.in.gov/boah/2390.htmIndiana Clarifies Avian Flu Findings in Nine FlocksLaboratory Results Confirmed OvernightFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEINDIANAPOLIS --Laboratory testing of samples from 8 of 9 Southern Indiana turkey flocks was completed overnight by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa. While all 9 were announced as H7 influenza-positive yesterday, the specific strain was yet to be determined. The Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH) has been informed 8 are low-pathogenic H7N8. Testing continues on the remaining sample. Avian influenza does not present a food safety risk; poultry and eggs are safe to eat. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) considers the risk of illness to humans to be very low.Indiana State Veterinarian Bret D. Marsh, DVM calls this good news, and evidence that Indiana's aggressive surveillance and response efforts in Dubois County are working."The low-path H7N8 virus was identified during testing in the 10-km zone around the initial flu-positive flock," Dr. Marsh said. "Because flu viruses are constantly mutating, we want to catch any case as early as possible after infection. We know this virus strain can intensify, so finding these cases as low-path strains shows we are keeping pace with the spread of this disease in the area."In addition to the HxNx naming scheme for specific strains, AI viruses are further classified by their pathogenicity--the ability of a particular virus strain to produce disease in domestic chickens. Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus strains are extremely infectious, often fatal to domestic poultry, and can spread rapidly from flock to flock. Low pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI) virus strains occur naturally in wild migratory waterfowl and shorebirds without causing illness. LPAI viruses have the potential to mutate into HPAI."This finding does not alter the aggressive control strategy BOAH has set forth," added Dr. Marsh. "Nor does it change our resolve to eliminate this virus wherever we find it."Priority response by the state of Indiana and USDA continues on all the infected farms. Turkeys are being humanely euthanized on infected sites within 24 hours of diagnosis. Depopulation eliminates the source of infection to prevent the disease from spreading. Disposal of the turkeys, primarily via indoor composting, will be followed by thorough cleaning and disinfection of all barns.Aggressive testing of other poultry farms in the area continues. During the last 24 hours, commercial farms have yielded 100 negative flu tests, beyond the nine new positives. In addition, state and federal teams have visited 503 residences in the area to identify any small flocks for testing. Tests are pending on 17 small flocks. Residential visits will continue in the 10-km area.About Indiana Poultry:Dubois County is Indiana's largest turkey-producing county, growing 1.4 million birds annually. The state ranks fourth in the nation in turkey production. As a major supplier of eggs, ducks and chickens, too, Indiana's poultry industry generates $2.4 billion and employs 14,000 Hoosiers.UPDATES and INFORMATION:Situation updates and status reports about ongoing avian influenza response activities, along with critical disease-related information, will be posted online at: www.in.gov/boah/2390.htm . Users may subscribe to email updates on a link at that page.--Communicated by:ProMED-mail <[email protected]>[This strain, H7N8 is not the same strain that was so prevalent last year, which was H7N2. What is interesting is that USDA announced these cases as highly pathogenic and now seems to be recanting. It is of course good news but this seems a bit unusual.These viruses are capable of mutating, especially from low pathogenicity to high pathogenicity. So these premises are likely to be watched and tested very carefully. - Mod.TGA HealthMap/ProMED-mail map can be accessed at: http://healthmap.org/promed/p/217.] See AlsoAvian influenza (07): USA (IN) poultry, HPAI H7N8 20160117.39435652015----Avian influenza (164): USA (GA) HPAI H5N2, poultry, proactive prevention 20150620.3452030Avian influenza (162): USA (NE) HPAI H5N2, poultry, spread mechanism, prices 20150618.3446341Avian influenza (159): USA (AZ), HPAI H5N2, poultry, NOT 20150614.3437014Avian influenza (157): USA: (IA, AZ) HPAI H5N2, poultry 20150613.3433899Avian influenza (153): USA: (MI,IA) poultry, HPAI H5N2 20150610.3424129Avian influenza (152): USA: (MI) poultry, HPAI H5N2 susp 20150609.3420799Avian influenza (151): USA (MN,IA) HPAI H5N2, poultry 20150606.3414670Avian influenza (149): USA: (MN,IA) HPAI H5N2, poultry 20150605.3411831Avian influenza (146): USA: (IA, MN) HPAI H5N2, poultry 20150604.3408841Avian influenza (144): USA (MN,IA,SD) HPAI H5N2, poultry 20150603.3405470Avian influenza (143): USA (MN) HPAI H5N2, poultry 20150602.3402414Avian influenza (141): USA: (MN) HPAI H5N2, poultry 20150531.3397688Avian influenza (139): USA (NE, MN, IA) HPAI H5N2, poultry 20150530.3396180Avian influenza (137): USA (NE, MN) HPAI H5N2, poultry 20150527.3388357Avian influenza (136): USA: (NE) HPAI H5N2, poultry 20150524.3382638Avian influenza (134): USA (IA,MN) HPAI H5N2, poultry 20150523.3381351Avian influenza (132): USA: (IA,NB) HPAI H5N2, poultry 20150520.3373609Avian influenza (128): USA, (IA) HPAI H5N2, poultry 20150515.3364032Avian influenza (120): USA, HPAI H5N2, poultry, turkey 20150510.3352747Avian influenza (108): USA (IA, MN, WI) HPAI H5N2, poultry 20150503.3338074Avian influenza (105): USA (MN,IA) HPAI H5N2 20150502.3336780Avian influenza (104): USA (MN,IA) HPAI H5N2, poultry, turkey 20150501.3334848Avian influenza (102): USA, HPAI H5N2, poultry, turkey 20150501.3332390Avian influenza (101): USA (KY) H5N2, goose, duck 20150429.3331768Avian influenza (99): Canada (ON) HPAI H5N2, turkey 20150429.3329590Avian influenza (97): Canada (ON) poultry; HPAI H5N2 20150424.3319119Avian influenza (96): USA, HPAI H5N2 20150424.3319118Avian influenza (90): Canada (ON), poultry, HPAI H5N2 susp. 20150419.3308319Avian influenza (87): USA, HPAI H5N2, turkey, poultry 20150418.3305689Avian influenza (80): USA, HPAI H5N2, turkey, poultry 20150415.3298419Avian influenza (74): USA (MN,ND) HPAI H5N2, turkey 20150412.3292191Avian influenza (73): Canada (ON) HPAI H5N2, poultry, OIE 20150410.3288088Avian influenza (71): Canada (ON) HPAI, H5N2, turkey 20150409.3285805Avian influenza (63): USA (WY) HPAI H5N2, goose 20150331.3267533Avian influenza (59): USA (MN): turkey, H5N2 20150329.3264089Avian influenza (54): USA (CA) poultry, LPAI H7N3, OIE 20150319.3241143Avian influenza (50): USA (AR) turkey, H5N2 20150313.3227033Avian influenza (49): USA (MO) turkey, H5N2 20150312.3223765Avian influenza (39): USA (OR) backyard flock 20150215.3167658Avian influenza (38): USA (ID) 20150213.3161063Avian influenza (34): USA (WA) hobby birds 20150204.3141350Avian influenza (29): USA (WA) game birds 20150130.3132628Avian influenza (17): USA (WA) wild duck, HPAI H5N1, OIE 20150122.3109001Avian influenza (16): USA (WA, ID) HPAI H5N2, H5N8 20150121.3107002Avian influenza (09): USA (UT) H5N8, wild duck 20150115.3094193Avian influenza (08): USA (CA) HPAI H5N8, wild bird 20150115.3093306.................................................tg/ml/ml

ProMED has published a commentary, Avian influenza (08): USA (IN) poultry, HPAI revised to LPAI H7N8, claiming that "What is interesting is that USDA announced these cases as highly pathogenic and now seems to be recanting". This mis-information is unfortunate. The USDA data suggests that low path was widespread in turkey farms in northern Dubois county. This low path H7N8 infection went undetected until the virus evolved to high path on the index farm, leading to a drop in water consumption and excessive deaths. Subsequent testing in the 10 km exclusion zone identified low path H7N8 in adjacent farms. USDA announced the HPAI on the index farm followed by the detection of H7 on nearby farms, followed by characterization of these subsequent H7 confirmations as LPAI. ProMED should issue a retraction of the comments and then find commentators with a basic knowledge of avian influenza evolution in poultry farms. http://promedmail.org/direct.php?id=20160118.3944747

Update on H7 Avian Influenza Cases in Indiana, Additional Flocks Now Confirmed as Low Pathogenic; Cases Found Through Surveillance Testing in Initial Control AreaUSDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service sent this bulletin at 01/17/2016 01:51 PM EST WASHINGTON, January 17, 2016 -- The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed the pathogenicity of eight of the nine H7N8 avian influenza detections announced on January 16. The turkey flocks have been confirmed as low pathogenic avian influenza, with additional testing ongoing for the ninth flock. These January 16 detections were identified as part of surveillance testing in the control area surrounding the initial highly pathogenic H7N8 avian influenza (HPAI) case in that state, identified on January 15. The pathogenicity of a virus refers to its ability to produce disease. Birds with low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) often show no signs of infection or only have minor symptoms. HPAI viruses spread quickly and cause high mortality in domestic poultry. H7 LPAI viruses have been known to mutate into HPAI viruses in the past. “It appears that there was a low pathogenic virus circulating in the poultry population in this area, and that virus likely mutated into a highly pathogenic virus in one flock,” said Dr. John Clifford, USDA Chief Veterinarian. “Through cooperative industry, state and federal efforts, we were able to quickly identify and isolate the highly pathogenic case, and depopulate that flock. Together, we are also working to stop further spread of the LPAI virus, and will continue aggressive testing on additional premises within the expanded control area to ensure any additional cases of either HPAI or LPAI are identified and controlled quickly.” APHIS continues to work closely with the Indiana State Board of Animal Health and the affected poultry industry on a joint incident response. State officials quarantined the additional affected premises and depopulation of birds has already begun. Depopulation prevents the spread of the disease. Birds from the flock will not enter the food system. No human infections associated with avian influenza A viruses of this particular subtype (i.e., H7N8) have ever been reported. As a reminder, the proper handling and cooking of poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165 ˚F kills bacteria and viruses, including HPAI. As part of existing avian influenza response plans, Federal and State partners continue to work on additional surveillance and testing in the nearby area. No new presumptive cases have been identified since January 16. The rapid testing and response in this incident is the result of months of planning with local, state, federal and industry partners to ensure the most efficient and effective coordination. Since the previous HPAI detections in 2015, APHIS and its state and industry partners have learned valuable lessons to help implement stronger preparedness and response capabilities. In September, APHIS published a HPAI Preparedness and Response Plan that captures the results of this planning effort, organizing information on preparatory activities, policy decisions and updated strategy documents. The United States has the strongest AI surveillance program in the world, and USDA is working with its partners to actively look for the disease in commercial poultry operations, live bird markets and in migratory wild bird populations. Anyone involved with poultry production, from the small backyard to the large commercial producer, should review their biosecurity activities to assure the health of their birds. To facilitate such a review, a biosecurity self-assessment and educational materials can be found at http://www.uspoultry.org/animal_husbandry/intro.cfm In addition to practicing good biosecurity, all bird owners should prevent contact between their birds and wild birds and report sick birds or unusual bird deaths to State/Federal officials, either through their state veterinarian or through USDA’s toll-free number at 1-866-536-7593. Additional information on biosecurity for backyard flocks can be found at http://healthybirds.aphis.usda.gov. Additional background Avian influenza (AI) is caused by an influenza type A virus which can infect poultry (such as chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, domestic ducks, geese and guinea fowl) and is carried by free flying waterfowl such as ducks, geese and shorebirds. AI viruses are classified by a combination of two groups of proteins: hemagglutinin or “H” proteins, of which there are 16 (H1–H16), and neuraminidase or “N” proteins, of which there are 9 (N1–N9). Many different combinations of “H” and “N” proteins are possible. Each combination is considered a different subtype, and can be further broken down into different strains. AI viruses are further classified by their pathogenicity (low or high)— the ability of a particular virus strain to produce disease in domestic chickens. http://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDAAPHIS/bulletins/130c612

APHIS has just released a press release indicating 8 of the 9 new farms in Dubois County, Indiana are LOW PATH (likely wild bird origin).

Ten HPAI Cases Confirmed in Indiana Turkey Flocks - 01/16/2016A total of ten cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) have been confirmed in turkey flock ... Read More » https://farbestfoods.com/news/

USDA: New Avian Influenza Strain Found in IndianaJANUARY 15, 2016 11:21 AM A new strain of the deadly avian influenza virus has been found in a commercial turkey flock in Indiana, according to USDA. RELATED CONTENTUSDA Awards Contracts to Two Companies for Bird Flu Vaccine 10/16/2015 2:00:00 AMAmid Bird Flu Threat, U.S. Producers Say No Thanks to Vaccine 1/8/2016 12:37:00 PMThe agency announced the news Friday. The farm has been quarantined, and officials have already begun depopulating the flock. According to the Indiana Board of Animal Health, there are 65 commercial poultry flocks within a 10-kilometer radius of the affected operation. “This finding of highly pathogenic H7N8 is unique to Indiana and the nation,” said Indiana State Veterinarian Bret D. Marsh, DVM. “This strain is unrelated to those identified in the Upper Midwest in 2015, nor is it related to the HPAI case identified in a Northeastern Indiana backyard poultry flock that was affected last May.” The previous strain, known as H5N2, resulted in the depopulation of more than 49 million birds, including chickens and turkeys. It is thought to spread via wild migratory waterfowl and has not been detected in a U.S. flock since June 2015. USDA now has a vaccine for that older strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N2), but U.S. poultry producers have been reluctant to use it; they are concerned that vaccine worries will cause countries to close their doors to imports of U.S. chicken. Indiana state officials say they are taking this new avian flu outbreak seriously. “Indiana is one of the largest poultry states in America, and I have directed all relevant agencies to bring the full resources of the state of Indiana to bear on containing and resolving the issue as quickly as possible," said Governor Mike Pence. "Multiple state agencies have been heavily focused for nearly a year on the necessary steps in this type of event, including the State Board of Animal Health, Indiana State Department of Agriculture, Indiana Department of Homeland Security, Indiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Indiana Department of Environmental Management, Indiana State Poultry Association, and several private sector partners. Hoosiers can be assured that we are taking all precautions to contain the situation and minimize the effects to Indiana’s robust poultry industry.” Such disease outbreaks can be financially and emotionally devastating. for producers and local economies. Economically, the 2015 bird flu epidemic cost an estimated $1 billion, with Minnesota and Iowa the most signficantly affected. According to the Indiana Board of Animal Health, the state's $2.5 billion poultry industry ranks fourth nationally in turkey production, first in duck production, third in eggs, and is a significant producer of broiler chickens. It also employs more than 14,000 people. USDA urged all poultry producers, regardless of whether they manage a small backyard flock or a big commercial chicken or turkey farm, to renew their biosecurity efforts. (Producers can find a biosecurity self-assessment and more information by clicking here.) http://www.agweb.com/article/usda-new-avian-influenza-strain-found-in-indiana-naa-alison-rice/

Updated: 9:21 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016 | Posted: 9:21 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016 9 more Indiana turkey farms infected with bird flu 0 0 0 2Sponsored Links The Associated Press HUNTINGBURG, Ind. — Turkeys tested positive for bird flu at nine more Indiana farms near the location where authorities first confirmed a strain different from the one that ravaged the U.S. poultry industry last summer, Indiana authorities said on Saturday. Farmers began euthanizing turkeys at the new farms even before final results of whether the birds were infected with the H7N8 strain, said Denise Derrer, spokeswoman for the Indiana State Board of Animal Health. Final results are expected soon from a government laboratory in Ames, Iowa. The nine farms are located in Dubois County, about 70 miles from Louisville, Kentucky. All of the new infections are within a quarantine area set up around the first farm and that area has been expanded to four neighboring Indiana counties — Martin, Orange, Crawford and Daviess. Confirmation of new bird flu cases alarmed industry officials after the rapid spread of the H5N2 virus last year led to the deaths of about 48 million turkeys and chickens, and drove egg prices higher. "We are very concerned and trying to figure out strategies to contain it," Derrer said of the outbreak. She said officials are trying to determine how many birds will have to be euthanized at the nine farms. The state animal health board website said one of the farms had 12,000 turkeys and another 23,500. It did not give figures for the other seven. All 60,000 turkeys at the first farm have been euthanized. It isn't clear whether the mild winter weather played a role in the current outbreak of the virus, state and federal officials said. The H7N8 virus has not yet been found in wild birds, suggesting that the virus could have developed in wild birds that spent the winter in southern Indiana, USDA spokeswoman Andrea McNally said Friday. Research has shown that wild birds' northern migration introduced the H5N2 virus, which began to accelerate from farm to farm last spring. While the H7N8 strain is highly contagious for birds, the USDA said no human infections from the viral strain have been detected. Indiana's poultry industry brings in $2.5 billion a year, Derrer said, adding that the state leads the country in duck production, is No. 3 in egg production and fourth in turkeys. Dubois County is Indiana's top poultry producer with 1.4 million turkeys, she said. The Indiana farm where the strain was first found is associated with Farbest Farms, a company that produces about 15 million turkeys a year and has contract growers in Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky. Derrer declined to say if the new infections also were on farms linked to the company. Indiana Gov. Mike Pence met Saturday with state and local officials at an incident command center set up since the outbreak. Pence emphasized in a statement that the poultry industry is vital to Indiana and authorities are "bringing all necessary resources to deal with this situation." ___ Associated Press writers Rick Callahan in Indianapolis, David Pitt in Des Moines, Iowa, and Erica Hunzinger in Chicago contributed to this report. http://www.wsoctv.com/ap/ap/us/turkey-company-says-its-working-with-officials/np6RZ/

Over 200,000 turkeys to be euthanizedBy Matthew Crane - January 16, 2016Gov. Mike Pence met with county and state officials at the Center for Technology, Innovation and Manufacturing at VUJC Saturday to discuss the Avian Influenza infection impacting Dubois County. In the photo from left: Gov. Pence, Dubois County Sheriff Donny Lamper and Dubois County Emergency Management Director Tammy Humbert.The number of turkeys that will have to be euthanized in Dubois County has increased to over 200,000. Governor Mike Pence visited Dubois County Saturday afternoon and released the information during a meeting with local news media. According to Pence, who had just met with county officials as well as representatives from the Indiana State Board of Animal Health, Indiana Homeland Security, and other state agencies, samples from two other sites had shown a preliminary indication of the H7N8 avian flu virus. Those sites are within the 6.2-mile testing area established around the Kalb farm where the first infection was found Thursday. The APHIS National Veterinary Service Laboratories in Ames, Iowa, is in the process of confirming the presence of the virus in the samples. “I just finished a briefing on the circumstances involving the avian flu that has now been detected at a number of sites,” Pence said. “When we determined that there was one site identified, I authorized the deployment of the full resources of the State of Indiana to contain and to address this situation. There have been additional sites that have been preliminarily identified as having birds that have contracted the avian flu. The Board of Animal Health is in the lead here. And, we have the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, Indiana Department of Environmental Management, Indiana State Department of Health will be on site soon. The Indiana Department of Corrections is on site currently as well.” Low-level offenders in the department of corrections are assisting with the cleanup of the euthanized turkeys. “Out of an abundance of caution,” the governor explained well over 200,000 turkeys will be depopulated. “We have a robust poultry industry in Indiana, and that is nowhere more true than in this area of the state and Dubois County has an extraordinary poultry industry of which we are very proud,” he said. “I am extremely gratefull to Tammy [Dubois County Emergency Management Director], to the sheriff, to the whole public safety team here and to the commissioners; all who have leaned into this effort.” According to the governor, since the small incident that occurred in Whitley County last year, the state has been preparing for a larger incident of the infection. “I think the response that Dubois County is seeing today is a result of good solid planning at every level,” he explained. Indiana Department of Homeland Security is one of several agencies that have taken up residency at the Joint Emergency Operations Center at CTIM.Tammy Humbert, the Emergency Management Director, is the incident commander for the operation that at this point includes representatives from county, state and soon, federal agencies — the U.S. Department of Agriculture will be on site soon. An operational command center hosting all the agencies has been established at the Center for Manufacturing, Innovation and Manufacturing on the VUJC campus. According to Humbert, VUJC Dean Dr. Chris Gray offered the use of the building’s second floor as a Joint Emergency Operations Center early Friday. The location was ideal due to the multiple conference rooms and highspeed internet available at the location. The multi-agency response will likely operate from the location for several weeks as this situation continues to unfold. The best thing the public can do, according to Humbert and county officials, is to stay away from the area impacted by the infection. In regards to the impact on humans, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention has said that this particular strain of avian flu is unlikely to affect humans. All the animals at the impacted operations are being culled and then disposed of on site. None are allowed to leave the quarantined area. The Purdue Extension released information on the flu that can be downloaded here AvianInfluenzaFAQ2016.docx. The economic impact of this infection is hard to measure at this point; 200,000 birds is a relatively small amount of the total turkeys produced in a county that stands as the number turkey producer in the state. However, the county has acknowledged that the impact will have far reaching effects beyond the farm operators. During the meeting today, Gov. Pence indicated the state was going to work with those operators and farmers impacted by the infection. “The state of Indiana is going to work in full partnership with all of our producers to ensure that all the resources that are available through the USDA are secured to mitigate the financial impact here,” Pence said. “Right now, the focus is on containing it [the infection] and resolving it.” http://www.duboiscountyfreepress.com/over-200000-turkeys-to-be-euthanized/

Updated: 7:28 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016 | Posted: 7:28 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016 9 more Indiana turkey farms infected with bird flu 0 0 0 NewSponsored Links The Associated Press HUNTINGBURG, Ind. — Birds from nine more commercial turkey farms in Indiana have tested positive for bird flu, and officials were trying Saturday to determine the strain of the highly contagious virus. The nine farms are located in Dubois County, Indiana, about 70 miles from Louisville, Kentucky, the Indiana State Board of Animal Health said in a statement. Authorities on Friday confirmed another commercial flock in Dubois County was infected with the H7N8 strain, which is different than the H5N2 virus that led to the deaths of about 48 million turkeys and chickens last summer. All of the new infections are located within a control area set up around the first farm, the statement said. The control area, which is under quarantine, has been expanded to four other Indiana counties, the board said. Denise Derrer, spokeswoman for the Indiana board, said officials are still trying to determine how many birds are affected on the nine farms covered by the announcement Saturday. Officials had begun euthanizing birds at most of the new sites, the board said. All 60,000 turkeys on the first farm have been euthanized. Research has shown that wild birds' northern migration introduced the H5N2 virus, which began to accelerate from farm to farm in the spring. But it isn't clear whether the mild winter weather played a role in the current outbreak, state and federal officials said. The highly pathogenic H7N8 virus has not yet been found in wild birds, suggesting that the virus could have developed in wild birds that spent the winter in southern Indiana, USDA spokeswoman Andrea McNally said Friday. "We may know more once the remaining work on virus sequencing is completed, likely sometime next week," she said. There's also no indication why H7N8 surfaced during winter months, but officials have said bird flu — any strain of it — could resurface anytime. Indiana's poultry industry brings in $2.5 billion a year, Derrer said, adding that the state leads the country in duck production, is No. 3 in egg production and fourth in turkeys. Dubois County, about 70 miles west of Louisville, Kentucky, is Indiana's top poultry grower with 1.4 million turkeys, Derrer said Saturday. The H7N8 strain is highly contagious for birds; the USDA said no human infections with the viral strain have been detected. Gov. Mike Pence met Saturday with state and local officials at an incident command center in Jasper. Pence emphasized in a statement after the briefing that the poultry industry is vital to Indiana and authorities are "bringing all necessary resources to deal with this situation." http://www.wsoctv.com/news/ap/us/turkey-company-says-its-working-with-officials/np6RZ/

State board: 10 Dubois farms now affected by avian fluJanuary 16, 2016 Sarah Ann Jump/The Herald Governor Mike Pence spoke to the press after being briefed by officials on the avian flu situation in Dubois County at the Center for Technology, Innovation and Manufacturing at VUJC on Saturday.By WYATT STAYNER [email protected] Update: The Indiana State Board of Animal Health has confirmed that 10 commercial turkey farms in the Dubois area have now tested positive for avian flu. The confirmation came tonight that nine farms, in addition to Dan Kalb's farm, have tested positive for the highly pathogenic avian influenza. The state board reports that depopulation control is underway at all nine farms. Find the latest reports from the BOAH here: http://www.in.gov/boah/2390.htm Earlier: Today, at the VUJC CTIM building Indiana Governor Mike Pence was briefed by local officials and multiple state emergency response agencies on the possible spread of H7N8, which first hit Steve and Dan Kalb’s farm in Dubois this week, which they operate for Huntingburg’s Farbest Foods. Pence said that while there are no confirmed cases outside of Kalb’s farm, there are “preliminary positive” tests at a number of sites in a 6.2-mile testing area established around Kalb’s farm. The state is waiting on confirmation from the lead lab, APHIS National Veterinary Service Laboratories, in Ames, Iowa. So far 60,000 birds have been culled and that number is expected rise above 200,000. “I just finished a briefing on the circumstances involving the avian flu that has now been detected at a number of sites,” Pence said. “When we determined that there was a site identified, I authorized the deployment of full resources of the state of Indiana to contain and address this situation. Today, I received the status that additional sites have been preliminarily identified birds who have contracted the avian flu. Any and all resources of the state of Indiana are to be brought to bear on addressing this issue, (in) containing it and mitigating the impact on business across this region. We have a robust poultry industry in Indiana and that is nowhere more true than in this area of the state and Dubois County has an extraordinary poultry of which we are very proud.” The exact number of farms affected or there exact locations can’t be answered at this time, said Joseph Romero, the director of planning for the Indiana Department of Homeland Security. Pence added that the main focus right now was a “multi-agency” effort to stop the spread of the disease and work on containment. This week’s outbreak marks the first time a commercial flock in Indiana has received bird flu. It’s the also first confirmed outbreak of avian flu anywhere in the U.S. since June. “We’ve got personnel on the ground working very closely to identify where there are affected animals and to make a determination of where depopulation should take place,” Pence said. “(State agencies) have been in the process of planning and training for this eventually in the state of Indiana. I think the response that Dubois County has seen today is a result of good, solid planing at every level and we’re putting that into effect to make sure we can contain and resolve the situation as quickly as possible.” The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has said that this particular strain of avian flu — which is different from the strain that caused millions of bird deaths last year — is unlikely to affect humans. Cheryl Miller, a D.V.M with the Indiana Board of Animal Health, said that it’s OK to eat poultry, chicken and eggs. The flu has so far only been confirmed in turkeys. “People are safe,” Miller said. “There is no problem there.” Still, Dubois County Emergency Management Agency Director Tammy Humbert wants people to be aware that isn’t smart to go on a tour of the affected area anytime soon. “Don’t go out looking for this. Stay away,” Humbert said. “We don’t want people going into the areas. Live your lives. Everything is OK. We will handle this. We’re a strong community and we’re going to get through this just fine.” While the health of Dubois County citizens is likely to go unaffected, the same can’t be said for their pockets. Indiana ranks fourth nationally in turkey production, first in duck production, third in eggs, and is a significant producer of broiler chickens, according to an Indiana Joint Information Center press release. The poultry industry employs more than 14,000 Hoosiers and is valued at $2.5 billion. Romero said that the state is waiting on specific information from the USDA in terms of “what costs will be reimbursed and how operator and farmers will indemnified for there losses.” Pence added that he had farmers and operators backs. “The state of Indiana is going to work in full partnership with all of our producers to ensure that all the resources that are available through the USDA are secured to mitigate the financial impact here,” Pence said. Humbert said that instead of working in her normal office in the Dubois County Courthouse Annex, she would be working at the VUJC CTIM building in a Joint Emergency Operations Center located staffed with the various agencies who are tasked with combating the outbreak. Humbert is slated to be there for the next three weeks. Don Watson with Indiana Department of Homeland Security said his agency would likely be in the center for the next several weeks since the outbreak is “just so hard to get under control.” Dubois County Council President Greg Kendall said he was impressed by both the local and state response to the outbreak and added that it was good the governor visited Dubois County since “he’s the head of the food chain.” “This is a major disease. We haven’t seen (H7N8). So where it is, how fast it is going to move is really a question that only God can answer at this point,” Kendall said. “We got to stop it as soon as we can... This could have a major, major economic impact on so many people in Dubois County because we are so active in Dubois County in the turkey and chicken business.” https://duboiscountyherald.com/b/avian-flu-could-now-affect-more-than-200000-birds

Authorities try to detect source of Indiana bird flu outbreakAll 60,000 turkeys on one farm have been euthanized. THE ASSOCIATED PRESSShare CommentHUNTINGBURG, Ind. —The company behind the commercial turkey farm in southern Indiana where bird flu was found says it is working closely with state and federal officials. Huntingburg-based Farbest Farms said Friday that its surveillance protocol for bird flu quickly detected the H7N8 strain. The strain was confirmed at a farm in Dubois County after there was a surge in turkey deaths, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said. All 60,000 turkeys on the farm have been euthanized, Indiana Board of Animal Health spokeswoman Denise Derrer said Saturday. Gov. Mike Pence met Saturday with state and local officials at an incident command center in Jasper. Pence emphasized after the briefing that the poultry industry is vital to Indiana and authorities are “bringing all necessary resources to deal with this situation.” The H7N8 strain is different than the H5N2 virus that led to the deaths of about 48 million turkeys and chickens last summer. Research has shown that wild birds’ northern migration introduced the H5N2 virus, which began to accelerate from farm to farm in the spring. But it isn’t clear whether the mild winter weather played a role in the current outbreak, state and federal officials said. The highly pathogenic H7N8 virus has not yet been found in wild birds, suggesting that the virus could have developed in wild birds that spent the winter in southern Indiana, USDA spokeswoman Andrea McNally said Friday. http://www.pressherald.com/2016/01/16/authorities-try-to-detect-source-of-indiana-bird-flu-outbreak/

New Bird Flu Strain Found at More Indiana Farmsby MAGGIE FOX SHAREShareTweetShareEmailPrintCommentA new type of bird flu found at one Indiana poultry farm has been found at nine others, U.S. Department of Agriculture officials said Saturday. The new strain's called H7N8 and it's never been a problem in poultry flocks before. It's the second outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in U.S. flocks. Last year's multiple outbreaks of a strain called H5N2 forced the slaughter of 48 million birds and drove up egg process for months. "These new cases were identified as part of surveillance testing in the control area surrounding the initial highly pathogenic avian influenza case. Testing is currently ongoing at the National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa to determine the pathogenicity of these new cases," the USDA said. "No cases of HPAI H7N8 virus infection have been reported in humans at this time, and no human infections associated with avian influenza A viruses of this particular subtype (i.e., H7N8) have ever been reported," the department said. Cooked meat and eggs do not spread the virus. http://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/new-bird-flu-strain-found-more-indiana-farms-n498041

Affected Counties 2016 County & Flock # Date Confirmed Positive Number of Poultry Type of Operation StatusType Dubois 1Jan. 14, 2016 60,000Commercial TurkeyDepopulated H7N8 Dubois 2Jan. 16, 2016 TBDCommercial TurkeyDepopulation is underway H7N_ Dubois 3 Jan. 16, 2016 TBDCommercial TurkeyDepopulation is underway H7N_ Dubois 4 Jan. 16, 2016 12,000Commercial TurkeyDepopulation is underway H7N_ Dubois 5 Jan. 16, 2016 TBDCommercial TurkeyDepopulation is underway H7N_ Dubois 6 Jan. 16, 2016 23,500Commercial TurkeyDepopulation is underway H_N_ Dubois 7 Jan. 16, 2016 TBDCommercial TurkeyDepopulation is underway H7N_ Dubois 8 Jan. 16, 2016 TBDCommercial TurkeyDepopulation is underway H7N_ Dubois 9 Jan. 16, 2016 TBDCommercial TurkeyDepopulation is underway H7N_ Dubois 10 Jan. 16, 2016 TBDCommercial TurkeyDepopulation is underway H7N_TBD = to be determined Current Statewide Situation Total number of affected premises = 10 Total number of affected counties = 1 Premises by County/Number of flocks Dubois : 10 Total number of birds affected in Indiana Commercial Turkey: TBD _________________ Total: TBD

Additional H7 Avian Influenza Cases Found in IndianaUSDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service sent this bulletin at 01/16/2016 06:00 PM EST Cases Found Through Surveillance Testing in Initial Control Area WASHINGTON, January 16, 2016 -- The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed the presence of H7 avian influenza in 9 flocks in southwestern Indiana. These new cases were identified as part of surveillance testing in the control area surrounding the initial highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) case. Testing is currently ongoing at the National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa to determine the pathogenicity of these new cases. No cases of HPAI H7N8 virus infection have been reported in humans at this time, and no human infections associated with avian influenza A viruses of this particular subtype (i.e., H7N8) have ever been reported. As a reminder, the proper handling and cooking of poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165 ˚F kills bacteria and viruses, including HPAI. APHIS continues to work closely with the Indiana State Board of Animal Health on a joint incident response. State officials quarantined the affected premises and depopulation of birds on the affected premises has already begun. Depopulation prevents the spread of the disease. Birds from the flock will not enter the food system. As part of existing avian influenza response plans, Federal and State partners continue to work on additional surveillance and testing in the nearby area. The rapid testing and response in this incident is the result of months of planning with local, state, federal and industry partners to ensure the most efficient and effective coordination. Since the previous HPAI detections in 2015, APHIS and its state and industry partners have learned valuable lessons to help implement stronger preparedness and response capabilities. In September, APHIS published a HPAI Preparedness and Response Plan that captures the results of this planning effort, organizing information on preparatory activities, policy decisions and updated strategy documents. The United States has the strongest AI surveillance program in the world, and USDA is working with its partners to actively look for the disease in commercial poultry operations, live bird markets and in migratory wild bird populations. Anyone involved with poultry production, from the small backyard to the large commercial producer, should review their biosecurity activities to assure the health of their birds. To facilitate such a review, a biosecurity self-assessment and educational materials can be found athttp://www.uspoultry.org/animal_husbandry/intro.cfm. In addition to practicing good biosecurity, all bird owners should prevent contact between their birds and wild birds and report sick birds or unusual bird deaths to State/Federal officials, either through their state veterinarian or through USDA’s toll-free number at 1-866-536-7593. Additional information on biosecurity for backyard flocks can be found at http://healthybirds.aphis.usda.gov. Additional background Avian influenza (AI) is caused by an influenza type A virus which can infect poultry (such as chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, domestic ducks, geese and guinea fowl) and is carried by free flying waterfowl such as ducks, geese and shorebirds. AI viruses are classified by a combination of two groups of proteins: hemagglutinin or “H” proteins, of which there are 16 (H1–H16), and neuraminidase or “N” proteins, of which there are 9 (N1–N9). Many different combinations of “H” and “N” proteins are possible. Each combination is considered a different subtype, and can be further broken down into different strains. AI viruses are further classified by their pathogenicity (low or high)— the ability of a particular virus strain to produce disease in domestic chickens. # USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users). http://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDAAPHIS/bulletins/130ad7c

APHIS has announced 9 more H7 confirmed turkey farms

Bird flu discovered at Dubois Co. turkey farmPosted: Jan 15, 2016 12:51 PM ESTUpdated: Jan 15, 2016 6:21 PM ESTPosted by Sean Edmondson, Digital Content ProducerCONNECT Crews on the scene of a Dubois County property INDIANAPOLIS (WFIE) -Federal officials say a bird flu virus that is different from the one that ravaged turkey and chicken farms last summer has been found in Indiana. The U.S. Department of Agriculture said Friday the H7N8 flu strain had been confirmed at a commercial turkey farm in Dubois County. According to Kenneth Eck from the Purdue Extension Office, the farm is located on East Dubois Road. It belongs to a man named Steve Kalb. Eck says the farm, which is a contracted with Farbest Farms, is a big operation in Dubois County. The strain is highly contagious for birds, not humans. The Centers for Disease Control considers the risk of illness to humans to be very low. A company veterinarian delivered samples from the flock to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory for testing, after several hundred birds died. “This finding of highly pathogenic H7N8 is unique to Indiana and the nation,” said Indiana State Veterinarian Bret D. Marsh, DVM. “This strain is unrelated to those identified in the Upper Midwest in 2015, nor is it related to the HPAI case identified in a Northeastern Indiana backyard poultry flock that was affected last May.” Last year's H5N2 virus outbreak began spreading widely in the spring, not winter, and led to the deaths of 48 million birds. Indiana Board of Animal Health spokeswoman Denise Derrer says the farm has about 60,000 turkeys and the flock is being euthanized to prevent the disease from spreading. She said a quarantine is in place for commercial poultry farms and backyard flocks within a nearly 6-mile radius. Indiana’s poultry industry ranks fourth nationally in turkey production, first in duck production, third in eggs, and is a significant producer of broiler chickens. The poultry industry employs more than 14,000 Hoosiers and is valued at $2.5 billion. State health officials say this is not a food safety risk. Poultry and eggs are safe to eat. Kalb says he is voluntarily remaining on the farm Friday to be absolutely certain the flu does not spread. Officials from the CDC consider this outbreak of avian flu a low risk to humans. http://www.wave3.com/story/30976945/bird-flu-discovered-at-dubois-co-turkey-farm

An outbreak of avian flu is confirmed in northern Dubois County. The farm, northeast of Jasper, is where 60,000 turkeys were euthanized Friday as a precaution. It was first reported to officials Wednesday at a commercial turkey farm, and the clean up is now underway. Neighboring farmers within a six mile radius say they're on lock down as crews work to eliminate the bird flu in the area. They say the Farbest facility could be shut down for at least six months until it's clean. Our media partner News Now Dubois County says the farm is owned by Steve Kalb and his father. They raise turkeys for Farbest Foods of Huntingburg. The farm is under quarantine as workers hose down and decontaminate gear and trucks. Farbest says there has been no impact on the safety of food products. They say the quick detection by surveillance protocol worked as intended. Steven Sander, a neighboring turkey farmer, says bird flu is brought to the region by Canada Geese, and spread by humans. “You get it on your foot and carry it in there,” he says, “That's why before you step foot in that building, you're washing your shoes and switching shoes inside the building, and putting a different outfit on.” Kalb says he is voluntarily remaining on the farm Friday to be absolutely certain the flu does not spread. Officials from the CDC consider this outbreak of avian flu a low risk to humans. http://www.tristatehomepage.com/news/local-news/dubois-co-turkey-farm-euthanizes-60000-birds

Farbest FarmsThis operation works under stringent guidelines in overseeing the growth of nearly 15 million turkeys per year through more than 200 contract growers and an increasing number of brooder hubs in Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky. More than 50 of Farbest Farms’ contract turkey growers and a number of new brooder hubs have been added to the Farbest Farms family in the past few years to meet growing demand for our products. Computer-controlled, tunnel-ventilated grow-out houses ensure the best environment for our turkeys and assist in providing a consistent supply of healthy, live turkeys for processing at our two Farbest Foods processing plants. The Farbest Farms team works to ensure that best care management practices are followed in every facet of the growing operations including farm safety and security, biosecurity, environmental management and animal welfare. To meet and sustain quality and health standards, our flock supervisors and office staff assist and oversee growers in a variety of areas: Building and equipment setupSecuring poults from outside sourcesBrooding turkeysGrowing turkeysLitter managementFeed ordersFlock settlementsBird health programs https://farbestfoods.com/farbest-facilities/farbest-farms/

Avian Flu Detected in Southwest Indiana01/15/2016HUNTINGBURG, Ind. – As a result of ongoing screening and surveillance testing for avian influenza and other poultry diseases in turkey flocks, according to National Poultry Improvement Plan protocols, a form of High Pathogenic Avian Influenza H7N8 (HPAI) has been detected in turkeys located in Dubois County. This is the first finding of HPAI in commercial turkeys in the state of Indiana. Farbest Farms, Inc. and the turkey industry are working closely with state and federal officials to keep the public informed and to be sure the best possible steps are being taken to protect the public and animal health. Federal and state officials will be working jointly on additional surveillance and testing in the nearby area, following the existing avian influenza response plan for Indiana. Samples from the affected flock were tested initially be Farbest Farms, Inc., then confirmatory testing was done by the Avian Diagnostic Lab at Purdue University. Those findings have been confirmed by the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa. APHIS and the Indiana State Board of Animal Health have initiated the incident command response, and APHIS will assist in depopulating the remaining birds on the farm to prevent the spread of the disease. Birds from the affected flock have not and will not enter the food system. Farbest Farms can assure the public there has been no impact on the safety of our food products. The Center for Disease Control considers the risk to people from the HPAI H7N8 infection to be low. The quick detection by our surveillance protocol has worked as intended and will help protect our flocks and keep our food safe. For more information about the ongoing avian influenza disease incident in the United States, visit the APHIS website at www.aphis.usda.gov and/or contact Denise Derrer at the Indiana Board of Animal Health at 317-544-2414. https://farbestfoods.com/avian-flu-detected-in-southwest-indiana/