Nearly 1M chickens test positive for bird flu at Darke County egg producer

High Path Avian Influenza (HPAI) has been detected in chickens at a Darke County egg producer.

High Path Avian Influenza (HPAI) has been detected in chickens at a Darke County egg producer.

Nearly one million chickens tested positive for bird flu at a Darke County egg producer.

The National Veterinary Services Laboratory confirmed HPAI (highly pathogenic avian influenza) Friday involving 931,302 commercial layers, the Ohio Department of Agriculture reported.

The ODA did not identify the egg producer because it is an active case.

When HPAI is detected, ODA quarantines the facility, where all the birds at the location are culled to prevent the spread of the disease. The agriculture department also sets up a control area and surveillance zone to monitor other facilities nearby.

The disease spreads quickly and can be fatal to flocks and devastating to poultry owners, the ODA reported.

The risk to the general public is low, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

HPAI cannot be transmitted through properly cooked meat or eggs. Products from any HPAI-affected flocks are prohibited from entering the food system. However, proper handling and cooking of all poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165 F is recommended as a general food safety precaution, the ODA said.

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