Another case of deadly poultry virus found in Kentucky

On February 11, federal and state authorities in Kentucky were alerted to a case of avian influenza in a flock of commercial broiler chickens near the border with Tennessee. State officials quarantined the premises, and an additional suspected case in a turkey flock in Webster County, Kentucky, is awaiting confirmation.

Kentucky's Department of Agriculture established a 10-kilometer surveillance zone to determine if other cases can be detected. That zone enters Obion County, Tennessee, and the two Departments of Agriculture are working to coordinate on the incident response.

"We are working diligently to prevent this virus from spreading to other poultry premises," says Kentucky State Veterinarian Katie Flynn. "We have activated our avian influenza response plan and are in active communication with state, federal, and industry partners. We encourage interested parties to sign up for significant updates at kyagr.com/HPAI."

Kentucky ranks seventh in the nation in broiler production, and in 2020 the state's broiler and egg industry brought in $856 million.

Last week, Indiana reported a case of avian influenza in a turkey flock in Dubois County, the first case in a commercial flock since 2020. In an announcement, the USDA also identified a backyard flock of mixed species birds that had been detected with avian influenza in Fauquier County, Virginia.

READ MORE: U.S. confirms highly pathogenic bird flu at Indiana turkey farm

Currently, avian influenza does not pose a food safety concern to humans. Regardless, poultry that have been affected will not enter the food system.

Additional information about poultry biosecurity can be found at healthybirds.aphis.usda.gov.