Highly pathogenic bird flu confirmed in Alabama: More than 100,000 chickens killed

More than 100,000 birds — nearly all of them chickens — have been killed at a Cullman County commercial broiler farm and a backyard flock in Pickens County after highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) was confirmed at the two sites, the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries said Monday.

Samples from the flocks were tested and confirmed positive at the Alabama State Diagnostic Laboratory in Auburn.

Both sites have been quarantined, the Agriculture Department said, and all birds at those locations — about 116,000 broiler chickens in Cullman and 70 guineafowl, ducks, turkeys and chickens in Pickens — were killed to prevent spread of the disease.

All poultry within a 6.2-mile radius of the broiler farm are being tested and monitored for HPAI.

“It is critical for commercial and backyard poultry operations to remain alert and closely monitor the health of their poultry,” said Agriculture Commissioner Rick Pate and State Veterinarian Dr. Tony Frazier in a joint statement.

“The detection of HPAI in Cullman and Pickens Counties reinforces the need to continue following strict biosecurity measures, including keeping birds enclosed without access to wild birds or other domestic flocks.”

Bird flu is considered a low risk to human health, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

But the disease is highly contagious to birds, including commercial and backyard poultry flocks.

Symptoms of HPAI include:

• Sudden increase in bird deaths in your flock
• Sneezing, gasping for air, coughing and nasal discharge
• Watery and green diarrhea
• Lack of energy and poor appetite
• Drop in egg production or soft or thin-shelled, misshaped eggs
• Swelling of the head, eyelids, comb, wattles and hocks
• Purple discoloration of the wattles, comb and legs
• Ruffled feathers, listlessness and lethargy

The Agriculture Department urged the commercial poultry industry and backyard flock owners in the state to increase biosecurity measures to protect their operations from HPAI.

Those measures include:

• Cleaning vehicles and equipment
• Limiting unnecessary visitors
• Sanitizing shoes in clean foot baths
• Changing clothes upon contact with birds and more.

People should avoid contact with sick or dead poultry or wildlife.

If contact occurs, wash your hands and change clothing before having any contact with poultry and wild birds.

More information on biosecurity measures can be found here: http://healthybirds.aphis.usda.gov.

Sick or dead wild birds should be reported to the Alabama Department of Natural Resources and Conservation at 334-242-3469.

Sick or dead domestic birds should be reported to the Agriculture Department’s Poultry Unit at 334-240-6584.