Alabama Chicken Farm Hit by Avian Flu, Thousands of Birds Culled
Alabama state agriculture officials have reported the culling of nearly 48,000 chickens after detecting a highly pathogenic avian flu (HPAI) at a farm in north Alabama. The outbreak occurred at a commercial pullet farm in Marshall County, which is responsible for raising chickens until they are ready to lay eggs. Following the confirmation of HPAI in the flock, the farm has been quarantined to prevent further spread of the virus.
Although HPAI is highly infectious among birds, the risk it poses to human health is low, and the virus does not affect the safety of poultry as food, according to the Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries.
In light of the outbreak, Agriculture Commissioner Rick Pate and State Veterinarian Tony Frazier emphasized the importance of stringent biosecurity measures for both commercial and backyard poultry operations. These measures are crucial to prevent the interaction of birds with wild birds and domestic flocks from other operations.
To ensure containment, poultry within a 10-kilometer radius of the affected farm are undergoing testing and observation for any signs of the disease. Symptoms of HPAI in birds can include sudden death, diarrhea, a lack of energy, a decrease in appetite, and issues with egg production.
This case follows a recent detection of HPAI at a Chilton County gamebird farm where approximately 296,500 birds were earmarked to be culled due to the virus.
The connection, if any, between the two outbreaks remains unclear.
The Agriculture Department is calling on poultry producers and backyard flock owners to enhance their biosecurity practices. These include sanitizing vehicles and equipment, changing clothing after interacting with birds, and controlling farm access.
The department also advises that sightings of sick or deceased wild birds should be reported to the Alabama Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, while domestic bird issues should be communicated to the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries’ Poultry Unit. The coordinated effort aims to mitigate the impact of HPAI and prevent it from spreading throughout the poultry industry in Alabama.