According to a press release from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture - Trade and Consumer Protection, highly pathogenic avian influenza has been confirmed in a backyard flock in Rock County. This is the second confirmed case of HPAI in a domestic flock this year. Samples were tested by the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and confirmed by the National Veterinary Services Laboratories, and birds on the property have been depopulated to prevent the spread of the disease. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HPAI does not present an immediate public health concern, and does not pose a food safety risk, as properly handling and cooking poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165˚F kills the virus.
Signs of HPAI in infected birds include:
Sudden death without clinical signs
Lack of energy or appetite
Decrease in egg production; soft, misshapen eggs
Purple discoloration of wattles, comb, and legs
Difficulty breathing
Runny nose, coughing, sneezing
Stumbling or falling down
Diarrhea