H5N1 Avian Flu Control Areas Lifted

LOCAL SOURCES:

The control areas surrounding Dubois County sites D1, D2, D3 and D4 have been lifted as of March 23, 2022. Commercial farms in the control areas are no longer under quarantine, weekly and bi-weekly surveillance testing is no longer required, and movement permits are eliminated. Surveillance of backyard flocks in the control areas is complete; owners will receive notice of the quarantine release by mail.

The D1, D2, D3 and D4 farms remain under quarantine until the final steps of the flock plan are complete. Final activities include compost disposal, virus elimination, environmental sampling for presence of the virus, and a fallow period.

To lift the Dubois County control areas, USDA requires the following conditions:

• The last infected premises in the control areas is depopulated and the compost pile has been set (capped)
• No HPAI-positive diagnostics have been identified in the control area for 14 days after the depopulation of the infected premises
• Initial virus elimination activities on the last infected premises are complete (including outside areas of the site, equipment, trucks, and other potential fomites used in the depopulation activities)
• Required surveillance in the control area (commercial and backyard premises) has been completed; no evidence of HPIA infection was found in the control area
• Surveillance requirements for international and bilateral trade are being conducted and may continue

SURVEILLANCE TESTING:  Testing of nearby flocks is important to verifying the virus has not spread in the area. Testing within the 10-km control area and the additional 10-km surveillance zone will continue until restrictions are lifted. Total number of laboratory tests run:

Tests of commercial flocks:  1,561

Tests of hobby/backyard flocks:  452

HOBBY/BACKYARD FLOCK SURVEILLANCE:  BOAH staff continue to reach out to known hobby/backyard poultry owners in the control areas to schedule testing of birds to ensure the virus is not present. To date, 74 hobby flocks have been sampled; laboratory testing determined them as negative. Hobby poultry owners in Southern Dubois County or Greene County should contact BOAH at 317-544-2387 to schedule testing at no charge.  

WILD BIRD SURVEILLANCE:  USDA Wildlife Services is assisting with surveillance of wild birds in and near the control areas. Samples from waterfowl, pigeons, European starlings and other species have been submitted for laboratory testing; results are currently pending for more than 220 samples collected, but will be reported when they become available.

As of 7 March 2022, the available epidemiologic data and analysis of over 200 full genome H5N1 HPAI sequences from wild and domestic birds supports independent wild bird introduction(s) for the initial detection in Dubois County and both detections in Greene County. Analysis will continue as data are available.