U.S. Department of Agriculture confirms highly pathogenic avian influenza in Kansas and Illinois
The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Franklin County, Kansas and a non-commercial backyard mixed species flock (non-poultry) in Mclean County, Illinois.
In Kansas, samples were tested at the Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, while in Illinois, samples were tested at the University of Illinois Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, APHIS report.
APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa, confirmed the samples.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, these HPAI cases do not pose an immediate public health concern.
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The United States has not been infected with these avian influenza viruses.
Anyone involved in the production of poultry, from the backyard producer to the commercial producer, should review their biosecurity measures to ensure the health of their flocks.
APHIS has biosecurity materials, such as videos, checklists, and toolkits available.
The owner of a bird should prevent contact between their bird and wild birds and report any birds that are sick or die unusually to State/Federal officials, either through their state veterinarian or through the APHIS toll-free number at 1-866-536-7593.
