Nearly 7 million chickens, turkeys and ducks at commercial farms across Indiana have contracted the highly contagious bird flu this year and concerns are rising with the disease now affecting wild birds, including waterfowl and at least one Bald Eagle.
Avian influenza, more commonly known as bird flu, has been identified in 20 commercial poultry facilities in Indiana since Jan. 1, according to state data, marking a significant increase in cases over recent years.
There currently is no cure for the disease, which has a high mortality rate among birds but remains low risk to people, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Sevral reports of dying sandhill cranes have been rolling in since January.
Dead sandhills have been found this year in Union, Greene, Jasper, Newton, LaPorte and Stark counties, and DNR estimates roughly 1,500 have died across the state.
Also, q second commercial poultry production farm in Washington County has been hit with Bird Flu within the past week.
According to the Indiana State Board of Animal Health, a commercial turkey farm near Salem, Indiana has had a positive test for the virus known as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). The facility had a flock size of 19,388 birds.
State health officials did not identify the name of the company, nor the specific location of the facility that has been impacted with Hoosier Ag Today.
On Friday, Feb. 14, state health officials announced that a commercial turkey farm in Washington County with 14,075 birds had a positive test for HPAI.
As of January 3, 2025, there have now been 12 cases of HPAI identified at major commercial poultry facilities throughout Indiana (excluding hobby flocks and small non-commercial farms):
- Jay County – Commercial Turkey operation. 20,560 birds depopulated.
- Jay County – Commercial Egg Layer operation. 354,000 birds depopulated.
- Jay County – Commercial Turkey operation. 18,840 birds depopulated.
- Allen County – Commercial Egg Layer operation. 26,066 birds depopulated.
- Adams County – Commercial Turkey operation. 19,860 birds depopulated.
- Jackson County – Commercial Egg Layer operation. 2,633,900 birds depopulated.
- Jay County – Commercial Egg Layer operation. 912,023 birds quarantined.
- Jay County – Commercial Egg Layer operation. 1,224,772 birds quarantined.
- Jay County – Commercial Egg Layer operation. 1,454,605 birds depopulated.
- Washington County – Commercial Turkey operation. 14,075 birds depopulated.
- Elkhart County – Commercial Duck operation. 4,198 birds quarantined.
- Washington County – Commercial Turkey operation. 19,388 birds quarantined.
Federal officials with USDA add that Avian influenza does not present a food safety risk, and that cooked poultry and eggs and pasteurized dairy products remain safe to eat.
State health officials have set up a control area within a 10-kilometer (6.2 mile) radius around the farm, which contains portions of Washington and Scott counties in Indiana. In addition, the state has set up a surveillance zone with a 20-kilometer (12.4 mile) radius around the farm which also contains portions of Washington, Clark, Jackson, and Scott counties.
Testing will be done at nearby flocks to determine whether HPAI has spread. USDA Wildlife Services and Indiana Department of Natural Resources are assisting with surveillance of wild birds in and near the control areas.
Lactating dairy cattle must have a negative test before interstate movement under a federal order. USDA has expanded surveillance through testing milk at the farm or processor level to establish the health status of herds, as well as states.
Indiana ranks fourth in the nation in turkey production according to the USDA. The state also ranks first in the U.S. for duck production, and third for egg production. Indiana’s poultry industry directly employs more than 12,700 Hoosiers and contributes more than $18.3 billion in total economic activity to the state.
Hoosiers who suspect a dead bird was affected with avian influenza should make a report online at on.in.gov/sickwildlife.
