Wisconsin expands bird restrictions amid HPAI outbreaks

Wisconsin is now prohibiting the movement of domestic birds to all live events, including shows, exhibitions and swap meets, due to ongoing cases of HPAI in the state. 
The new order from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection replaces an earlier edict, and expands the suspension from poultry to all domestic birds, the agency noted. The rules remain in effect until 30 days after the last detection of HPAI among domestic flocks in the state.

There have been 18 confirmed outbreaks in Wisconsin, seven involving commercial flocks, most recently a commercial turkey flock in Barron County on Friday.
The virus has killed nearly 38 million birds in commercial and backyard flocks across 34 states, according to the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. The figures include 176 commercial flocks and 130 backyard flocks. 

HPAI infections were mostly recently confirmed in backyard flocks in Idaho, Minnesota, Utah and Washington. The virus was also detected this week in a commercial turkey operation in Muskegon, Mich., as well as commercial duck and egg-laying facilities in Berks and Lancaster, Pa., with more than 100,000 birds destroyed. 
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Elsewhere, a small poultry flock on British Columbia’s Vancouver Island has tested positive for HPAI, according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, which placed the premises under quarantine. The outbreak marks a seventh B.C. flock infected since April.