MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Tennessee Department of Agriculture is warning that Avian Flu may have been found in West Tennessee.
The department said the Tennessee State Veterinarian believes a form of the “highly pathogenic avian influenza” is responsible for a spike in a flock at a commercial chicken facility in Gibson County.
Sequencing is being done to determine the specific strain of the influenza.
“Although we are awaiting final confirmation, we are confident the illness affecting this flock is HPAI,” Dr. Samantha Beaty said. “HPAI continues to circulate in our environment, particularly in the wild bird population. As always, we strongly encourage people who own birds to practice strong biosecurity to protect their flock.”
HPAI is a highly transmissible disease known to be deadly for domesticated fowl. They can be exposed to HPAI through contact with humans and or wild birds.
Health experts said HPAI does not pose a food safety risk, but the department said affected poultry will not be allowed to enter the food supply. They said poultry and eggs are safe to eat as long as they are handled and cooked properly.
The department said the risk of human infection during a poultry outbreak is “very low.”
A control zone of just over six miles has been established around the facility, said the department. Poultry are being monitored and tested for illness, and staff members will reach out to poultry owners in the area to address any concerns.
Anyone seeing more information is asked to email Animal.Health@tn.gov or call 615-837-5120.
More from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture:
Guidance for Bird Owners
- Wash your hands thoroughly before and after interacting with domesticated birds.
- Dedicate a pair of shoes to only be worn in coops or poultry houses and clean those shoes after each visit.
- Regularly disinfect any equipment used in coops or poultry houses.
- Deter wild birds from interacting with domesticated birds. Consider hanging pie pans or other noisemakers in trees or, if local rules allow, set off firecrackers intermittently or when you see vultures or geese on your property.
- Look for signs of illness and report a sudden increase in the number of sick birds or bird deaths to the Tennessee State Veterinarian’s office at (615) 837-5120 and/or USDA at 1-866-536-7593.
Find more biosecurity tips and HPAI resources online at www.tn.gov/agriculture/animals/animal-health-resources/animal-disease/avian-influenza.html.
