Source: Chris Scott, MEATINGPLACE, 2/9/16


Animal health authorities in Indiana are preparing to release the control area and surveillance zone established following last month’s outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) before the end of this month.

The Indiana State Board of Animal Control plans to release the restrictions in the two zones on Feb. 22 if no new positive tests of HPAI are identified, the agency announced in a news release. The control zone was set up in Dubois County where the outbreak was confirmed on Jan. 15 and the surveillance zone was established as a precaution in parts of four additional nearby counties, the agency said.

After more than 414,000 turkeys and chickens were culled, no new positive HPAI tests have been recorded since Jan. 16, the agency reported. The Indiana State Veterinarian also is expected to lift restrictions on movement of all poultry and poultry products on all non-infected sites once the control and surveillance zones are released. Quarantines, however, are expected to continue on the infected sites until final cleanup requirements are met, the agency said.

Testing at more than 100 sites will continue next week in advance of the anticipated lifting of the restrictions. The Indiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory at Purdue University so far has run more than 2,100 bird flu tests, all of which have been negative.

Meanwhile, officials in the Philippines this week established a ban on poultry products from Indiana, joining South Korea and Japan as a result of the bird flu outbreak, according to the Manila Bulletin. The Philippine Dept. of Agriculture said the ban involves all shipments of poultry meat, day-old chicks and eggs originating in Dubois County with the exception of heat-treated products.

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