Montana has second confirmed avian influenza case

Highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza has been discovered in a backyard mixed-poultry flock in Judith Basin County, Montana. The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed the outbreak on April 2.
Samples from the flock, which experienced increased mortality, were tested and confirmed at the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa.  APHIS is working closely with the Montana Department of Livestock to respond to the finding. State officials quarantined the affected premises and birds on the property will be depopulated to prevent the spread of the disease.
The backyard flock infection was announced just days after The Montana Livestock Department confirmed that a gyrfalcon had died after contracting H5N2 avian influenza.
To date, 13 U.S. states have had confirmed cases of avian influenza. In addition to Montana, the virus has been reported in Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Minnesota, Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas and North Dakota.
To help poultry growers and producers monitor outbreaks of avian influenza, WATTAgNet has created an interactive map tracking confirmed 2015 avian influenza outbreaks in North America. The map allows users to filter by region. Users can also filter by bird species, type of operation affected and date confirmed.