Four states report more avian flu in poultry flocks
Four states—Iowa, Maine, New York, and South Dakota—reported more highly pathogenic avian flu outbreaks in poultry, according to federal and state sources.
In an update, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) reported the state's 10th outbreak, which struck a fourth commercial farm in Buena Vista County in the northwestern part of the state. The new outbreak occurred at a turkey farm.
Elsewhere, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) in an update reported outbreaks in three other already affected states. South Dakota has three more outbreaks on commercial turkey farms in three counties: Bon Homme, Edmunds, and Spink. All are in the eastern half of the state. The three facilities collectively house 119,609 birds.
Also, APHIS reported additional outbreaks in Maine and New York, both of which involved backyard flocks. Maine's outbreak, its 10th, struck a mixed-species flock of 46 birds in Knox County, on the state's Atlantic shore. New York's outbreak, also its 10th, occurred in a holding of 400 mixed-species poultry in Monroe County, which includes Rochester.
The outbreaks are part of ongoing Eurasian H5N1 activity that has affected wild birds and poultry in multiple world region. US outbreaks have led to the loss of more than 16 million poultry across 23 states since January.
Mar 30 IDALS press release
APHIS poultry avian influenza update
In international developments, Belgium reported another highly pathogenic H5N1 outbreak, this time at a commercial farm in Flanders region, according to a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). The event began on Mar 28, killing 193 of 18,859 susceptible birds.
Mar 30 OIE update
H9N2 avian flu sickens Cambodian girl
Cambodian health officials reported a H9N2 avian flu case, which involves a toddler girl who was sick at the end of February, Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection (CHP) said in its latest avian influenza update.
The 13-month-old girl started having symptoms Feb 27. The report didn't have any details about her clinical course or contact with poultry.
Cambodia's last known H9N2 infection was reported in 2021 and involved a 3-year-old boy.
H9N2 is known to circulate in poultry in some Asian countries. Most cases have been reported in China. Illnesses most commonly occur in children, and symptoms are typically mild.
Mar 29 CHP avian flu update
Apr 21, 2021, CIDRAP News scan