FRANKFORT, Ky. – Low-pathogenic avian influenza was confirmed at second site in Christian County, Kentucky on March 31. Approximately 2,700 birds were culled.
The confirmation came during the investigation of the initial finding in March, when federal and state authorities confirmed the presence of low-pathogenic H7N9 avian influenza was confirmed in a commercial chicken flock of 22,000 hens.
Deputy State Veterinarian Bradley Keough said “the owner was very cooperative, and depopulated on site.” He noted that the 2015 outbreak demonstrated the gravity of avian influenza outbreaks in the US poultry flock. “It really, really enhances the response,” he said.
The Office of the State Veterinarian has been conducting surveillance of nearby flocks, and no birds have tested positive for the virus, Keough added.
Poultry and egg sales generated an estimated $1.2 billion in cash receipts to Kentucky farmers in 2015, according to the Kentucky Dept. of Agriculture. Kentucky farmers produced 307.7 million broilers and nearly 1.3 billion eggs in 2015.
