TAYLOR COUNTY, Wis. (WKOW) — The first case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) was confirmed in a backyard flock in Taylor County, according to the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP).
This is the state’s first infected flock this year and the first one since Nov. 7, 2022.
Flock owners should practice strong biosecurity measures to protect their birds from the virus. This includes washing hands, disinfecting equipment, restricting access to birds and separating new birds from existing flocks for at least 30 days. Poultry owners are asked, when possible, to keep their birds indoors.
HPAI spreads easily and is often deadly to domestic poultry. Symptoms include the following:
- Sudden death without clinical signs
- Lack of energy or appetite
- Decrease in egg production; soft, misshapen eggs
- Purple discoloration of wattles, comb, and legs
- Difficulty breathing
- Runny nose, coughing, sneezing
- Stumbling or falling down
- Diarrhea
Wisconsin poultry owners are legally required to register their premises.
To report increased mortality or signs of illness among domestic birds, contact DATCP at 608-224-4872 (business hours) or 800-943-0003 (after hours and weekends). For updates on how the virus is affecting domestic birds in Wisconsin, visit DATCP’s HPAI webpage.
