In accordance with World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) requirements, the USDA has reported a limited outbreak of low Pathogenicity H5N2 strain avian influenza in a single non-commercial flock of ducks. Appropriate quarantine and surveillance has been in effect for a week. All H5 and H7 strain cases are reportable.

The affected farm is located in Webster County located in southwest Missouri, east of Springfield and north of Branson.

The obvious implication from the isolation of H5N2 AI is that the risk of outbreaks has been raised due to presumed introduction by migratory waterfowl. Appropriate intensification of biosecurity is warranted.

Additional postings in this edition document outbreaks of HPAI attributed to migratory birds in the EU. Other articles on recent outbreaks of HPAI may be retrieved from both EGG-NEWS and CHICK-NEWS by entering “Influenza” in the SEARCH block.