WASHINGTON – On April 3, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the US Department of Agriculture confirmed that highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) was present in a commercial pheasant flock in Erath County, Texas. 

Samples from the flock were tested at Texas A&M Veterinary medical Diagnostic Laboratory, part of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network. 

The cases were confirmed at the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa.

The agency said it is working closely with state animal health officials in Texas on joint incident response. State officials quarantined the affected premises and birds on the property were depopulated to prevent the spread of the disease. 

The latest reports on this year’s HPAI outbreaks can be found here.