Highly pathogenic avian influenza confirmed in Alabama; over 115K birds killed in Cullman County

MONTGOMERY,

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Ala. – The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) and USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) have confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a commercial broiler farm in Cullman County and in a backyard flock in Pickens County.

Samples from the flocks were tested and confirmed positive at the Alabama State Diagnostic Laboratory in Auburn, part of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network.

APHIS is working closely with state animal health officials in Alabama on a joint incident response and action plan. State officials quarantined the affected premises, and all birds on the properties (approximately 116,000 in Cullman County and approximately 70 in Pickens County) were depopulated to prevent the spread of the disease. All poultry within a 10-kilometer radius (6.2 miles) of the commercial Cullman site are being tested and monitored.

As part of existing avian influenza response plans, federal and state partners are working on additional surveillance and testing in areas around the affected flocks. The United States has the strongest AI surveillance program in the world. 

ADAI and USDA are actively monitoring for the disease in commercial poultry operations, backyard flocks, live bird markets and in migratory wild bird populations.

HPAI is considered low risk to human health according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but is highly contagious to other birds, including commercial and backyard flocks of poultry. 

While the virus is also not considered a food safety threat, infected birds do not enter the food supply.

ADAI Commissioner Rick Pate and State Veterinarian Dr. Tony Frazier released the following statement: “It is critical for commercial and backyard poultry operations to remain alert and closely monitor the health of their poultry. The detection of HPAI in Cullman and Pickens counties reinforces the need to continue following strict biosecurity measures, including keeping birds enclosed without access to wild birds or other domestic flocks.”

HPAI symptoms include:

• Sudden increase in bird deaths in your flock
• Sneezing, gasping for air, coughing and nasal discharge
• Watery and green diarrhea
• Lack of energy and poor appetite
• Drop in egg production or soft or thin-shelled, misshaped eggs
• Swelling of the head, eyelids, comb, wattles and hocks
• Purple discoloration of the wattles, comb and legs
• Ruffled feathers, listlessness and lethargy

ADAI urges the commercial poultry industry and backyard flock owners to increase biosecurity measures to protect their operations from HPAI.

Biosecurity measures can include:

• Cleaning vehicles and equipment
• Limiting unnecessary visitors
• Sanitizing shoes in clean foot baths
• Changing clothes upon contact with birds and more

People should avoid contact with sick/dead poultry or wildlife. If contact occurs, wash your hands and change clothing before having any contact with poultry and wild birds. For information on biosecurity measures, visit http://healthybirds.aphis.usda.gov.

Report sick or dead wild birds to the Alabama Department of Natural Resources and Conservation at 334-242-3469.

Report sick or dead domestic birds and poultry to ADAI’s Poultry Unit at 334-240-6584.

More information about HPAI or detections can be found at www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-disease-information/avian/avian-influenza/2022-hpai.