SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA — The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) announced on December 13 the detection of the first presumptive positive human case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), or H5N1, in Louisiana.
Following a report of increased mortality in the non-commercial backyard flock (non-poultry) on the property in southwest Louisiana, testing by Louisiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (LADDL) has detected highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the flock. The disease was previously detected in a flock in north Louisiana.
While the current public health risk for the general public is low, people who work with birds, poultry, or cows, or have recreational exposure to them, are at higher risk, according to the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH).
The best way to protect yourself and your family from H5N1 is to avoid sources of exposure. That means avoiding direct contact with wild birds and other animals infected with or suspected to be infected with bird flu viruses.
Anyone involved with poultry production from the small backyard to the large commercial should review their biosecurity activities to assure the health of their birds.Â
RELATED STORIES:
LAKE CHARLES, La. (NEWS 15/AP) — A person in Louisiana has the first severe illness caused by bird flu in the U.S., health officials said Wednesday. The patient had been in contact with sick and dead birds in backyard flocks, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. Medical sources said the patient is hospitalized in Lake Charles. Previous illnesses in the U.S. had been mild and the vast majority had been among farmworkers exposed to sick poultry or dairy cows. The CDC confirmed the Louisiana infection on Friday, but did not announce it until Wednesday. It’s also the first U.S. human case linked to exposure to a backyard flock.
BOSSIER PARISH, La. — Testing has confirmed a case of avian influenza in a backyard flock in Bossier Parish, Louisiana. The backyard flock owner alerted the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry of increased mortality in the backyard flock. Following an investigation by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) and the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory has confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the non-commercial backyard flock (non-poultry). Positive test results were confirmed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Service Laboratory in Ames, Iowa. Preliminary testing was performed at the LDAF Diagnostic Lab. This is the first case of HPAI in domestic birds in Louisiana during this outbreak, which began in February 2022. The birds on the affected farm have been depopulated to prevent the spread of disease.
BATON ROUGE, La. — The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) has detected the first presumptive positive human case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), or H5N1, in Louisiana. The individual is a resident of southwestern Louisiana and is currently hospitalized. LDH's Office of Public Health is coordinating with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on the epidemiologic investigation. The investigation identified that the individual had exposure to sick and dead birds that are suspected to have been infected with H5N1. H5N1 is a type of influenza virus that causes highly infectious and severe respiratory disease in birds.
At a minimum, poultry flock owners should follow the biosecurity steps on their farms to prevent the spread of the disease. Those steps include:
- Limit, monitor, and record any movement of people, vehicles or animals on or off your farm.
- Permit only essential workers and vehicles to enter the farm to limit the chances of bringing the virus from an outside source.
- Avoid visiting other poultry farms and any unnecessary travel off the farm.
- Disinfect equipment, vehicles, footwear, and other items that come into contact with flocks.
- Keep your flock away from wild or migratory birds, especially waterfowl.
- Isolate any ill animals and contact your veterinarian.
In addition to practicing good biosecurity, all bird owners should prevent contact between their birds and wild birds. Louisiana bird owners should report sick birds or unusual bird deaths to state and federal officials, through USDA’s toll-free number at 1-866-536-7593. In Louisiana, poultry owners can report to the USDA number or directly to the LDAF Diagnostic Lab at 1-318-927-3441. Anyone wanting to report concerns regarding wild bird mortality should call the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries at 225-765-2800.
CLICK HERE for more.
