The U.S. Department of Agriculture responded to the detection of the avian influenza virus infecting three separate poultry flocks in Wisconsin, according to the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.
The strain of virus poses no risk to humans in terms of causing disease but is fatal for domestic poultry if affected. It is not expected to cause any problems with the food supply or risks to public health, state health officials said in a statement.
Officials first detected the disease in a commercial chicken flock in Jefferson County. More than 180,000 infected chickens at that farm will be removed from the food supply and euthanized. The counties of Juneau and Barron have also been affected recently.
The affected flocks were quarantined and additional local properties will be notified of the virus. Surveillance and testing procedures are currently in motion to prevent the virus from spreading in accordance with USDA policy.
