INDIANA – A test confirmed this week that a flock of 12,000 turkeys in Daviess County had bird flu. Those birds have been euthanized.
State animal health experts say the virus has likely spread to an additional flock of more than 27,000 turkeys in Martin County. That flock has also been euthanized.
In all more than 38,000 turkeys have had to be euthanized this week.
“Something is different this year and is happening with this virus and it’s just not going away,” said Denise Spears with the Indiana State Board of Animal Health.
Spears says normally the virus slows down this time of year, but that is not happening.
Avian flu is typically spread by migratory birds like ducks or geese. Spear says the virus is spread by their droppings and can then infect farm birds like turkeys. In late November, the Indiana DNR detected the virus in a flock of Canadian geese.
But, Spears believes this year’s strand of Avian flu may be airborne.
“These barns are typically pretty well ventilated to keep the birds’ fresh air and keep them cool,” added Spears. “We have seen cases where the first birds that get sick are the ones closest to the ventilation fans.”
The risk of humans getting infected with Avian flu is remote, as is the risk of the virus spreading through poultry and eggs. This year there have been zero cases of Hoosiers becoming infected. A national hike in turkey and egg prices is also attributed to the outbreak of bird flu.
