Latest news with #IndianaStateBoardofAnimalHealth
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Indiana bird flu cases explode, killing chickens, sandhill cranes, other waterfowl
Nearly 7 million chickens, turkeys and ducks at commercial farms across Indiana have contracted the highly contagious bird flu this year and concerns are rising with the disease now affecting wild birds, including waterfowl and at least one Bald Eagle. Avian influenza, more commonly known as bird flu, has been identified in 20 commercial poultry facilities in Indiana since Jan. 1, according to state data, marking a significant increase in cases over recent years. There currently is no cure for the disease, which has a high mortality rate among birds but remains low risk to people, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Denise Derrer Spears, the spokeswoman of the Indiana State Board of Animal Health, said the impact of bird flu varies from year to year. 'Cases have been trickling in since the first weeks of January,' she said, 'but in the last week or so it has ramped up and that's concerning.' So far in 2025, officials have identified 6.9 million affected birds compared to about 13,100 in 2024 and less than two dozen in 2023. The bulk of cases this year are concentrated in Jay and Jackson counties, with totals of roughly 4 million and 2.5 million reported, respectively. The jump in cases is not a major surprise due to the number of reports in neighboring states, Derrer Spears said. Ohio has been dealing with a high number of cases and many of those are concentrated at sites on or near the Indiana border. Case numbers in Indiana are up due primarily to the disease hitting large-scale poultry farms that hold a million or more birds. 'Typically, there will be multiple houses or barns on a facility that has a large number of birds, and it is very difficult when in close proximity to keep virus out of one building,' Derrer Spears said. The disease has also been found in wild birds in the state. Waterfowl migrating to and through Indiana often flock in large groups, allowing them spread the disease where they congregate or stop. Eli Fleace, an avian health biologist with Indiana's Department of Natural Resources, said reports of dying sandhill cranes have been rolling in since January. Dead sandhills have been found this year in Union, Greene, Jasper, Newton, LaPorte and Stark counties, and DNR estimates roughly 1,500 have died across the state. Snow geese, Canada geese, red-breasted mergansers, common goldeneyes and mallards have also died due to avian influenza, Fleace said. The bird flu has been found in at least one Bald Eagle and a handful of hawks and owls that can pick up the disease by scavenging on carcasses of infected birds. 'Avian influenza has been around since ducks have been around and we've had these outbreaks in the past,' Fleace said. 'But it's usually not this dramatic and often they go away after one season. This particular strain is behaving differently than every other strain has in the past.' The current strain of bird flu (H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4), which was identified in 2021, is highly contagious and has persisted for multiple seasons, Fleace said. It is now widespread across the landscape, Fleace said, and bird populations will need to work through the disease and build up a stronger immunity. Hoosiers who suspect a dead bird was affected with avian influenza should make a report online at The CDC classifies bird flu as very low risk to humans and reports only 70 cases in the U.S. with one associated death from the disease. None of those cases were in Indiana. Birds that die from avian influenza are not suitable to eat, Derrer Spears said, but eggs bought in the grocery store are safe and shoppers do not need to worry about eating them. Eggs from backyard chicken coops exposed to bird flu should not be eaten or given to pets. Cats are especially susceptible to bird flu. With hundreds of millions of affected poultry across the country, egg prices have soared as the supply dwindled. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a $1 billion strategy Tuesday to curb bird flu cases and lower egg prices, according to a news release. The USDA is planning to expand its wildlife biosecurity measures by deploying 20 epidemiologists and expanding audits for affected farms. The department will also increase its aid to farmers to help restock their flocks and research vaccines and therapeutics for avian influenza. The department will also consider importing more eggs while decreasing exports, which could be complicated by the Trump administration's sweeping tariffs set to begin in March. IndyStar's environmental reporting project is made possible through the generous support of the nonprofit Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust. Karl Schneider is an IndyStar environment reporter. You can reach him at Follow him on BlueSky @ This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Nearly 7M bird flu cases in Indiana this year keep egg prices high
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Egg prices may increase up to 20% as top farm tests positive for bird flu: USDA
One of the nation's top egg producers confirmed that one of its farms tested positive for cases of bird flu over the weekend, the company said. Rose Acres Farms, which claims to be the second-largest egg producer in the United States, released a statement on Tuesday saying that it had detected cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) at Cort Acre Egg Farm in Seymour, Indiana. With farms across the U.S. testing positive for bird flu cases, the USDA predicts that egg prices will rise up to 20% this year due to a shortage of eggs. Poultry found to be sick with avian flu need to be culled, and their eggs also need to be destroyed. MORE: Long Island farm forced to euthanize more than 100,000 ducks after bird flu detected "We are working with the Indiana State Board of Animal Health and the state veterinarian on best practices to combat the risk of spreading AI to other birds," the Rose Acres Farms statement said. "We are continuing to monitor all of our facilities." It explained that the risk to other birds, including migratory waterfowl, backyard poultry and commercial poultry, is high; however, "the risk to people remains low." The family-owned company also said the Indiana State Board of Animal Health is monitoring the current situation, while the U.S. Department of Agriculture is monitoring animal infections and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is monitoring human infections. Rose Acres Farms stated on the company's website that it "is committed to producing high-quality eggs and egg products and leading the way in animal stewardship." American Egg Board President and CEO Emily Metz said on Tuesday that the nation's egg farmers continue the fight against bird flu. She said in her statement that "volume sales of eggs at retail value have been up year-over-year for 22 consecutive four-week periods." The current threat is impacted by two factors, the statement explained: avian flu showing up in dairy cattle and changes in migratory bird patterns due to extreme climate events. MORE: What 3rd case of bird flu with unknown source of infection could mean in fight against disease Bird flu, or avian influenza, has been detected in poultry and dairy cows in the U.S. There have also been a few human cases, which have primarily been observed among poultry and dairy workers. Human cases have been diagnosed across the country since April 2024, with 67 confirmed in 10 states as of Monday, according to the CDC. Most human cases have been mild, and patients fully recovered. One death has been reported: a Louisiana resident over the age of 65 who had underlying medical conditions. The CDC and other public health officials say there is currently no evidence of human-to-human transmission, and the risk to the general public is low. ABC News' Mary Kekatos contributed to this report. Egg prices may increase up to 20% as top farm tests positive for bird flu: USDA originally appeared on
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Bird flu deaths confirmed at Indiana egg producer. What to know
Indiana-based Rose Acre Farms, the second largest egg producer in the U.S., has confirmed fowl deaths from bird flu at its Indiana facility. Rose Acre Farms, which has locations in seven states, posted to a social media page on Tuesday, that its Cort Acre Egg Farm in Seymour was recently tested for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), commonly known as bird flu; this after it noticed chickens dying on Jan. 25. The company said it sent samples to be tested as quickly as possible, and 'immediately implemented further biosecurity steps to our already established, stringent biosecurity protocol.' The company has had prior experience with bird flu and knew the 'necessary steps to mitigate further spread,' it said. 'We have been and are continuing to work with the Indiana State Board of Animal Health and the state veterinarian on best practices to combat the risk of spreading AI to other birds. We are continuing to monitor all of our facilities.' Rose Acre egg recall: FDA inspectors found rodents, filth and butt-scratching workers at farm While the risk to other birds – including migratory waterfowl, backyard poultry, and commercial poultry – from bird flu inflections is high, the risk to people remains low, it said, adding that the Indiana State Board of Animal Health is monitoring the situation, the USDA is monitoring animal infections and the CDC is monitoring human infections. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources on Jan. 22 confirmed bird flu as the cause of death in waterfowl in December in a post to social media on Jan. 22. Bird flu: Is it a threat to humans? What the CDC recommends. 'Indiana DNR has confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) as the cause of death in Gibson County waterfowl in December and the suspected cause of death in waterfowl in Allen, Benton, Hamilton, Lake, LaPorte, Newton, Pike, Porter, Starke, Tippecanoe, and Vermillion counties over the last six weeks,' it said. 'Most waterfowl species affected are snow and Canada geese, but mute and tundra swans, mallards, American white pelicans, common goldeneyes, and double crested cormorants deaths have also been noted. 'If you find wild waterfowl dead for no obvious reason, or showing signs such as sudden death; neurological impairments; lack of energy and appetite; head, neck or eye swelling; and nasal discharge, cough, sneezing, lack of coordination and diarrhea, report it online at Contact IndyStar reporter Cheryl V. Jackson at or 317-444-6264. Follow her on or Bluesky: @ This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Bird flu deaths confirmed at Indiana egg producer Rose Acre Farms
