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Ag Department urges vigilance after bird flu outbreak

Star-Herald - 3/14/2017

In the wake of a bird flu outbreak at a Tennessee poultry farm last week, the Nebraska Department of Agriculture is asking state poultry producers to stay alert and continue to follow strict biosecurity measures on their farms.

"The confirmation of HPAI in Tennessee is a reminder for all Nebraska poultry producers to review biosecurity plans and do what you can to protect the health of your flock," Ag Director Greg Ibach said in a news release. "Nebraska has large commercial poultry operations and small backyard poultry flocks all over the state. So, biosecurity and healthy poultry flocks are important to us all."

Over the weekend, Tennessee'sDepartment of Agriculture confirmed a case of bird flu on a farm near the Alabama border. More than 73,000 chickens at the farm were destroyed, and 30 other farms in a six-mile radius were quarantined.

Thursday, officials said bird flu has been found at a second commercial chicken farm in the state. The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Tuesday posted notice of an outbreak of a less-serious strain of bird flu at a turkey farm in western Wisconsin.

Nebraska has an existing avian influenza surveillance program that involves monitoring the state's poultry flocks and testing domestic and wild bird populations.

"Even though Nebraska has had no known cases of this disease this year, we want poultry producers to be aware of the situation in Tennessee and remain vigilant when it comes to the health of their flocks" state veterinarian Dennis Hughes said in the release. "Avian influenza can travel in wild birds without them appearing sick. Wild waterfowl are natural carriers of the virus and are currently migrating north."

What officials want to avoid is a repeat of 2015, when a nationwide bird flu outbreak caused more than 48 million birds to be killed at commercial chicken and turkey farms, including nearly 5 million in Nebraska. The outbreak also led to an egg shortage and soaring egg prices.