Iowa - Two probable cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Wright and Sac counties

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Friday, May 29, 2015 Dustin Vande Hoef 515/281-3375 or 515/326-1616 (cell) or Dustin.VandeHoef@IowaAgriculture.gov Share on facebookShare on twitterShare on emailShare on printMore Sharing Services0

TWO PROBABLE CASES OF HIGHLY PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA IN WRIGHT AND SAC COUNTIES CDC considers the risk to people to be low DES MOINES – The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is responding to two probable cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Wright and Sac counties. The Department has quarantined the premise and once the presence of the disease is confirmed, all birds on the property will be humanely euthanized to prevent the spread of the disease. Wright 5 - A pullet farm with an estimated 400,000 birds that has experienced increased mortality. Initial testing showed it positive for H5 avian influenza. Additional confirmatory testing is pending from the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames. Sac 7 – Turkey farm with an estimated 42,000 birds that has experienced increased mortality. Initial testing showed it positive for H5 avian influenza. Additional confirmatory testing is pending from the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames. As the Department receives final confirmations of the disease updated information will be posted to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s website at www.iowaagriculture.gov/avianinfluenza.asp. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Iowa Department of Public Health considers the risk to people from these HPAI H5 infections in wild birds, backyard flocks and commercial poultry, to be low. No human infections with the virus have ever been detected and there is no food safety risk for consumers. USDA UPDATE ON DEPOPULATION AND DISPOSAL The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Incident Response reported that several loads of materials were buried Thursday at the Northwest Iowa Landfill near Sheldon, in compliance with criteria approved by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. This is the first deposit of organic materials in a public landfill during this response. On-site burial, composting, incineration and landfill will all be used as disposal methods in the immediate future to expedite removal. The incinerator at the Cherokee landfill came online Thursday, with previously staged loads scheduled for incinerated in the immediate future. .../ http://www.iowaagriculture.gov/press...s05292015b.asp