H5N1 Found in 1.8 million Northern Utah Layer Flock
Likely a southern extension of the long-running southern Idaho dairy-poultry outbreaks, given proximity of multiple dairy facilities in Cache County
Bird flu forces the culling of 1.8 million chickens in northern Cache County (msn.com)
A “large commercial poultry flock” in northern Cache County has been confirmed as having the bird flu, the first such event this year, according to Utah Department of Agriculture and Food spokesperson Caroline Hargraves.
A quick search on Google maps located the farm and a further search for “dairy in Cache County Utah” yielded the following map sites (with names redacted):
NSVL in Ames will likely confirm and report the outbreak early this week, with confirmation of the viral clade likely to follow. It’s always possible that the strain affecting the flock could be unrelated to the dairy strain, and Utah has not reported infected dairy herds to date.
However, if the isolates from the flock are compatible with the “dairy clade” H5N1 2.3.4.4b B3.13, suspicions will arise regarding the status of nearby dairy herds in Northern Utah, whether clinically ill or not. The Utah State Veterinarian’s Office will determine whether bulk tank testing or other investigations in dairy herds may be warranted.
Stay tuned…
John