On Sunday, the officials from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection confirmed the eighth case of H5 avian influenza, at a farm in Barron County. The facility in Barron County is a turkey farm and is the fourth farm to be affected in the county.

About 16,000 breeding turkeys and 42,000 hatching eggs have been affected. The property was immediately quarantined. Surveillance and testing procedures will take place at properties near the affected facility.

The H5 avian influenza virus was first detected in Wisconsin at a commercial chicken flock in Jefferson County on Monday, April 13. Since then seven additional flocks were detected. This is the eighth case of bird flu tested positive.

Multiple outbreaks of avian influenza are occurring across the Midwest with the most recent cases being reported in Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Arkansas, the Dakotas and Kansas.
A total of 1.5 million birds have been affected. The remaining birds will be depopulated, so that they do not enter the food supply.

US Department of Agriculture officials are encouraging backyard poultry owners and poultry producers to practice good biosecurity measures with their birds. The farmers should prevent contact between wild birds and their flocks. They are also advised to monitor their flock closely and report sick or dead birds to DATCP at 1-800-572-8981.

In Barron, Chippewa, Jefferson, and Juneau counties, a ban has been imposed until the end of May, on the movement of poultry to shows, exhibitions and swap meets.

Wisconsin Army National Guard personnel are providing assistance by helping to clean and disinfect the equipment and vehicles that leave the infected sites.

State Department of Agriculture officials are reminding the Wisconsinites that the virus does not pose a risk to the food supply. Poultry meat and egg products in the marketplace remain safe to eat, when cooked properly.