Third Farm Tests Positive for Bird Flu
Published: Friday, April 22, 2022
A third commercial duck flock in Elkhart County has tested positive for the H5N1 avian influenza virus, according to the Indiana State Board of Animal Health.
BOAH announced on Monday that the flock, known as Elkhart3, has an estimated 6,500 ducks and is located in close proximity to another quarantined site. The ducks were approximately 17 days old.
The new 10-km (6.2 miles) control area circle extends to include only one more additional flock. This control area extends slightly into LaGrange County and across the Michigan state line.
Testing of nearby flocks is being done to verify that the virus has not spread. A second round of commercial flock testing from the first positive farm has been completed, and the first round of commercial flock testing was initiated on April 15. Additional testing of a subset of commercial flocks in 12-mile surveillance zones continues.
BOAH announced that it will be reaching out to residents in the 3-km infected zone around Elkhart3 to schedule testing of birds to ensure the virus is not present. Hobby poultry owners in Elkhart County should contact BOAH at 317/544-2387 to schedule testing at no charge.
BOAH teams have completed backyard flock outreach in the infected zones around Elkhart1 and Elkhart2. The crews visited approximately 1,200 residences and identified nearly 75 small-flock premises. Test results for the first 38 tested were negative; testing of the remaining flocks will be occurring this week.
Since the establishment of the Elkhart1 and Elkhart2 control areas, 158 permits have been processed for movement of poultry or poultry products into, within or out of the areas. These movements have involved 13 other states.
So far, the three commercial duck farms had a total of 17,179 ducks. All of the ducks have been euthanized.
Avian influenza is also affecting the population of wild birds. BOAH reported that approximately 220 samples from waterfowl, pigeons, European starlings and other species have been tested. Positive test results have been identified in a bald eagle, a hawk and a redhead duck collected in Indiana.
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