CULLMAN COUNTY, Ala. — A flock of commercial poultry has tested positive for low pathogenic avian influenza at a northern Alabama farm.

The diagnosis was confirmed through Auburn University and the USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa.

State agriculture officials say the low pathogenic strain of bird flu does not pose a risk to the food supply, and no affected poultry have entered the food chain. The risk of human infection with avian influenza during poultry outbreaks is very low, said State Veterinarian, Dr. Tony Frazier.

“This probably means the flock will have to be de-populated. That determination is being made now,” said Daniel Autrey, chief of staff for State Agriculture Commissioner John McMillan.

A “stop movement” order has been in place since March 15, banning all bird exhibitions of any kind until further notice.

The stop movement order reads: “all poultry exhibitions in the State of Alabama are prohibited until this order is lifted by the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI). In addition, the concentration, collection, or assembly of poultry of all types, including waterfowl and wild and exotic birds, from one or more premises, at a private or public place, for purposes of sale is prohibited until this order is lifted by ADAI. This includes, but is not limited to, poultry exhibitions or sales at regional and county fairs, festivals, swap meets, exotic sales and live bird markets, flea markets and auctions.”

Autrey said the abundance of water fowl in north Alabama requires a vigilant approach to protecting flocks in Alabama’s massive poultry industry.

“Water fowl are the carriers. It can spread so quickly, so bio-security has stepped up tremendously,” Autrey said. We want to do everything we can to prevent this from spreading. Being low-pathogenic it has not spread widely like what happened in 2015. But it refers to the ability of the virus to produce disease.”

“We’ve not seen any impact on the exports. This industry is huge for Alabama,” Autrey said.

The outbreak in Cullman is not the nation’s first in 2017. Tennessee and Kentucky have both reported bird flu in poultry farms this month. Although no human infection has been confirmed, some are calling it the worst outbreak since 2015.

Frazier also confirmed recently that a flock of chickens at a commercial poultry breeding operation located in Pickens County, and a backyard flock located in Madison County have both tested positive for low pathogenic avian influenza.

The Montgomery Advertiser reported that over 200,000 animals have been euthanized in Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky because of avian flu infection. 

Palmer writes for the Cullman, Alabama Times.