Remaining Quarantines On Wisconsin Poultry Farms Lifted

Quarantines have been lifted at all Wisconsin poultry farms infected this spring with a deadly strain of bird flu.

Inspectors with the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection have been finishing up decontamination at four turkey farms in Barron County and two chicken egg-laying facilities in Jefferson County.

State veterinarian Dr. Paul McGraw said 10 premises were infected this spring, which led to months of quarantine for producers.

“All of the infected premises have been depopulated, the birds composted and disposed of, cleaning and disinfection is completed and then they have to go through a 21-day waiting period according to (U.S. Department of Agriculture) guidelines,” McGraw said.

More than 49 million birds died or were euthanized this spring in 15 states as the virus spread from the Pacific Northwest into Midwest farms. Nearly 2 million chickens and turkeys were euthanized in Wisconsin.

McGraw said DATCP is planning a series of meetings with the state’s poultry industry to prepare for possible outbreaks this fall when temperatures drop and wild birds begin to migrate south for the winter.

Editor’s note: This article was originally an Associated Press story. It has been updated to include reporting by Wisconsin Public Radio.