Indiana Declares End of Avian Influenza Outbreak
Indianapolis, IN – In a significant development, state officials announced Thursday that Indiana’s avian influenza outbreak, which emerged more than three years ago, has officially ended. As of May 27, Indiana meets the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) standards and can be declared free from highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).
This new designation paves the way for easing international trade barriers surrounding Indiana poultry and related products. However, authorities cautioned that this announcement does not imply the complete elimination of the virus within the state or the country. The Indiana Board of Animal Health (IBOAH) emphasized that all poultry flock owners must maintain strict biosecurity measures to prevent any possible reintroduction of the virus, as it continues to be active in various parts of the U.S., with new cases still being reported.
The HPAI outbreak in Indiana began in early February 2022 in Dubois County with the confirmation of the first positive case in a turkey flock. Throughout the outbreak, Indiana has seen 45 positive cases in both commercial and small hobby flocks across 20 counties, impacting over 8.5 million birds, including turkeys, ducks, and chickens. Notably, there have been no reported cases of HPAI in livestock.
Under WOAH protocols, a state can declare itself free of HPAI after successfully eliminating the disease on affected farms, followed by a 28-day surveillance period without new infections. Following this protocol, control areas and surveillance zones have been lifted, allowing most farms to restock their flocks.
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