Another quarantine lifted: No new detections of bird flu in Chippewa County

CHIPPEWA COUNTY (WITI) — The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) announced Tuesday, May 26th that after extensive surveillance and testing for avian influenza, the quarantine zone within 6.2 miles of a farm in Chippewa County has been released.

There have been no new detections of HPAI in the county since the original incident in April affecting a flock of commercial turkeys.

DATCP confirmed on April 22nd that a commercial flock of 87,000 turkeys in Chippewa County had been infected with H5N2 avian influenza. Since then, DATCP successfully implemented a coordinated response with the property owners, USDA, and other state agencies to contain and eliminate the disease. The affected farm was immediately quarantined and the remaining birds in the flock were depopulated. That farm itself remains quarantined until further notice.

“Even though we are starting to release quarantines, it’s not time to let down our guard quite yet,” says Dr. Paul McGraw, Wisconsin State Veterinarian.  “As long as this virus might still be in the environment, we need to be closely watching birds for signs of illness.”

Positive flocks are still being reported in states to our west.

Bird owners are reminded that the poultry movement ban to shows, exhibitions and swap meets in Chippewa and the other counties with infected properties, including Barron, Juneau and Jefferson, still remains in effect until May 31st.

McGraw doesn’t currently have plans to cancel bird exhibitions at any local, county or state fairs.

All bird owners, whether commercial producers or backyard enthusiasts, need to continue practicing good biosecurity, preventing contact between their birds and wild birds, and reporting sick birds or unusual bird deaths to your veterinarian and the DATCP’s Animal Health division at 1-800-572-8981.