Indiana BOAH Issues Avian Influenza Update, Lifts Control Areas in Greene County

The government organization released the following press release:

STATEWIDE SUMMARY:   

Total number of affected premises =6   

Total number of affected counties = 2   


Premises by County/Number of flocks   

Dubois: 4   

Greene: 2:  All control areas lifted; G1 and G2 still quarantined  


Total number of birds affected in Indiana   

Commercial Turkeys: 171,224 



CURRENT SITUATION   

The control areas surrounding Greene County sites G1 and G2 have been lifted as of March 15, 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 wrapping up this week; owners will receive notice of the quarantine release by mail.  


The G1 and G2 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 Greene 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 flocks in the control areas 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:  1,314 


Tests of hobby/backyard flocks:  307 


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, 89 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, 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.