Two poultry housing facilities located in Palmyra, approximately 10 miles east of Whitewater, are working through the aftereffects of multiple positive tests for highly pathogenic avian influenza.
In late September, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection confirmed in a press release that a commercial poultry flock in Jefferson County tested positive for H5N1, a strain of HPAI. Millions of chickens would be depopulated in order to prevent further spreading of the disease, with these birds not entering the food system. The depopulation process began Oct. 1.
Just over a week after the initial announcement, Jefferson County officials confirmed another case of HPAI H5N1 after testing another nearby poultry farm.
The first farm that tested positive for avian influenza was affected by this disease in 2022, leading to the depopulation of 2.75 million birds. This farm is owned by Daybreak Foods, a company that houses 19 million laying hens across the Midwest.
Despite its name, avian influenza can spread to species outside of domesticated birds, most commonly cattle, wild birds and humans. The DATCP noted that the disease can spread through direct or indirect contact with infected birds, even being spread through clothing that was worn near a diseased animal.
With the disease being easily spreadable, officials are reassuring surrounding communities that they are doing whatever it takes to stop the disease from having a larger outbreak. DATCP Senior Public Information Officer Molly Mueller said the easiest way to stop the disease from spreading comes down to cleanliness and awareness around birds.
“DATCP continues to urge all livestock owners to implement strong biosecurity measures to protect their flocks and herds from the disease,” Mueller said. “This includes washing hands, disinfecting equipment, restricting access to animals and separating new additions to the flock or herd for at least 30 days. Poultry owners are asked, when possible, to keep their birds indoors.”
When avian influenza is diagnosed in a flock, a “control area” is established around the infected area, with the entire control area being placed under quarantine. “Surveillance zones” are also established 10 to 20 kilometers from the infected area. In surveillance zones, poultry premises are not required to quarantine, but movement of birds is highly discouraged due to the potential for mingling with infected wild birds.
“To help producers determine if their poultry are located within an active control area or surveillance zone, poultry owners are encouraged to use DATCP’s mapping tool,” Mueller said. “Any Whitewater farms who are affected by this control area would have received notice from DATCP via email or paper mail.”
Avian influenza has not directly impacted Whitewater, and the implementation of control and surveillance areas with the quick identification of the disease in Palmyra lessens the chance of it spreading further.
For more information on HPAI H5N1 control areas and surveillance zones in Wisconsin, visit datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Programs_Services/HPAIWisconsin.aspx.
