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