H5N1 hits more poultry flocks and pet cats in the United States

As avian flu outbreaks continue to hit poultry and backyard farms across the United States, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed more of H5N1 detections in five states, including a second commercial chicken farm in Georgia, the largest chicken farm in the country. Top broiler producing state.

The Georgia outbreak involves another broiler facility in Elbert County, with 130,400 birds on site. The state recently ordered a temporary ban on live bird sales and displays following the first outbreak at a commercial farm.

APHIS also reported outbreaks on broiler farms in two other states, one in Caroline County, Maryland, at a producer with 108,400 birds, and another in Accomack County , Virginia, in a place with 441,000 birds. Last week, in announcing the presumptive positive result in the flock, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services said it was working with its counterparts in Maryland and Delaware for a unified response to avian flu incidents. occurred on the Delmarva Peninsula.

In Missouri, the virus was confirmed at a large egg-laying farm in Newton County with 1.175 million birds.

Elsewhere, authorities confirmed H5N1 at a farm in Umatilla County, Oregon, that has 50 birds.

More detections in cats and cows

In related developments, APHIS today provided an update on H5N1 detections in mammals., reported six additional confirmations in domestic cats from five different states, most with sample collection dates in January. Two detections are in California, with positive results also reported in Kansas, Louisiana, Iowa and South Dakota.

APHIS also confirmed the presence of the virus in a sample from a harbor seal in Illinois (Cook County) and a serval in Michigan (Kent County). Both animals were sampled this month.

In connection with the dairy cow development, APHIS confirmed one additional detection in a dairy herd, another in California, bringing the national total to 930 and the state total to 713.