Bird flu detected at Tennessee chicken farm

Consumer Affairs ----- State health officials in Tennessee have confirmed the presence of a strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), or bird flu, has struck a poultry farm in Lincoln County, in the south central portion of the state. HPAI is contagious and deadly for chickens and turkeys. Humans can contract the virus from contact with an infected animal but, to date, there has been no human to human spread of the illness. On Friday, a commercial chicken farm in Lincoln County contacted the state veterinarian’s office at the Tennessee Department of Agriculture to report an unusual increase in chicken deaths. Over the weekend, tests conducted at state and federal labs confirmed the presence of H7 HPAI. “Animal health is our top priority,” said state veterinarian Dr. Charles Hatcher. “With this HPAI detection, we are moving quickly and aggressively to prevent the virus from spreading.” To get more in depth information on bird flu detected at Tennessee chicken farm click on the picture below to read the article.