Avian Influenza Still Being Found In Northeastern United States

Livestock Update, February 1998

Phillip J. Clauer, Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Tech

Turkey Farm Depopulated
The commercial turkey farm in Elstonville, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, which was positive for H7N2 avian influenza was depopulated and composted in the turkey houses today, December 19, 1997.

New Suspect AI Layer Flock
A farm near Columbia, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, is suspect for avian influenza due to typical AI lesions in the reproductive tract and multiple positive directigen tests. There are two houses on the farm, each housing about 62,500 leghorns 56 weeks of age.

Suspect Ducks found in Surveillance
Surveillance around the turkey flock in Elstonville north of Manhein, Pennsylvania, has turned up suspicious tests on a nearby duck farm. AI positive tests on waterfowl are not necessarily unexpected. Confirmatory tests and serotyping is in progress.

Suspicious AI case in Delaware
In a memo received December 18, Delaware reported suspicious AI test findings on a sample collected Dec. 3 in an auction market near Dover. Further tests are in progress at the National Veterinary Services Laboratory. NVSL has identified the virus from the truck at the auction near Dover, Delaware, as H3N2. This is most likely a waterfowl isolate.

H₂N₁ From Asia Very Pathogenic
A USDA researcher has indicated that the H2N1 virus from Asia is the most pathogenic AI virus (rapid and total mortality in inoculated chickens) he has seen.