Title: High Pathogenic Avian Flu Detected at Alabama Chicken Farm, Prompting Precautionary Measures
Subtitle: Nearly 48,000 birds culled as authorities investigate the outbreak
Date: [Insert Date]
In a significant blow to Alabama’s poultry industry, state agriculture officials have confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic avian flu (HPAI) at a commercial pullet farm in Marshall County. As a result, nearly 48,000 birds were culled, and the farm has been placed under quarantine to contain the spread of the virus. The Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries made the announcement on Friday after samples from the flock were confirmed positive for HPAI.
Although HPAI poses a low risk to humans, it is highly contagious among birds, including both commercial and backyard poultry flocks. The agency reassured the public that the virus does not pose a threat to food safety since infected birds do not enter the food supply.
To prevent further outbreaks, all poultry within a 10-kilometer radius (6.2 miles) of the affected farm are being tested and closely monitored. However, no other flocks have shown an increase in bird deaths, easing concerns of a widespread outbreak.
Alabama Agriculture Commissioner Rick Pate and State Veterinarian Tony Frazier emphasized the importance of vigilance among poultry farmers, stating, “The HPAI infected flock in Marshall County reinforces the need to continue following strict biosecurity measures, including keeping birds enclosed without access to wild birds or other domestic flocks.”
This incident follows a similar case in Chilton County, where HPAI was confirmed in an upland gamebird farm. Consequently, all 296,500 birds on the premises are set to be culled by the end of the week. At this time, it remains unclear if the outbreaks at the two farms are connected.
Federal and state officials are actively working on additional surveillance and testing in areas surrounding the affected flocks. The United States is recognized for having the strongest avian flu surveillance program globally, ensuring thorough monitoring of commercial poultry farms, backyard flocks, live bird markets, and wild bird populations.
Symptoms of HPAI in birds include sudden increases in bird deaths, sneezing, gasping for air, coughing, nasal discharge, watery and green diarrhea, lack of energy, poor appetite, drop in egg production, or the presence of misshaped eggs. Other indicators include swelling of the head, eyelids, comb, wattles, and hocks, purple discoloration of the wattles, comb, and legs, and ruffled feathers, listlessness, and lethargy.
The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries has urged both commercial poultry industry and backyard flock owners to enhance biosecurity measures to protect their operations from HPAI. Such measures include cleaning vehicles and equipment, limiting unnecessary visitors, sanitizing shoes in clean foot baths, changing clothes upon contact with birds, and more.
Any sightings of sick or dead wild birds should be reported to the Alabama Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, while sick or dead domestic birds and poultry must be reported to the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries’ Poultry Unit.
For more information about HPAI or related detections, concerned individuals can visit [Insert Link] for further guidance and updates regarding this ongoing situation.