Source: MEATINGPLACE, 4/10/15

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed on Thursday the presence of highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza in a commercial turkey flock in Kingsbury County, S.D. This is the second confirmation in a commercial flock in that state.  

The flock of 34,000 turkeys is located within the Central flyway where this strain of avian influenza has previously been identified.

APHIS is working with South Dakota on a joint incident response. State officials quarantined the premises and birds on the property will be depopulated to prevent the spread of the disease. Birds from the flock will not enter the food system.

The South Dakota Department of Health is working directly with poultry workers at the affected facility to ensure that they are taking the proper precautions.

USDA said it will notify the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and international trading partners of this finding as appropriate.  

CDC considers the risk to people from these HPAI H5 infections in wild birds, backyard flocks and commercial poultry, to be low. No human infections with the virus have been detected at this time.

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