The Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) in conjunction with the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is announcing a fourth confirmed case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).
The fourth farm, a small backyard mixed flock, is in Holt County.
According to NDA State Veterinarian Dr. Roger Dudley, the farm has been quarantined and the birds will be humanely depopulated and disposed of in an approved manner. Additionally, NDA will be establishing a 6.2-mile surveillance zone, as is USDA policy, around the affected premises. A surveillance zone means poultry producers should be on heightened alert and practice biosecurity measures to protect their flock. These producers should also know the signs and symptoms of HPAI and notify NDA immediately of sick or dying poultry.
Current Status of Impacted Farms:
| Location | Flock Size | Flock Type | Depopulation | Disposal Method |
| Merrick County | Small (100 birds or under) | Mixed – Chicken / Waterfowl | Completed | Incineration completed |
| Butler County – 1 | 570,000 | Broilers | Completed | Compost in progress |
| Butler County – 2 | 400,000 | Broilers | Completed | Compost in progress |
| Holt County | Small (50 birds or under) | Mixed – Chicken / Waterfowl | In progress | N/A at this time |
For more information about avian influenza, visit NDA’s website at https://nda.nebraska.gov/animal/avian/index.html or the USDA’s website https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/. Additional information on biosecurity for backyard flocks can be found at http://healthybirds.aphis.usda.gov