Wisconsin has recently confirmed a case of bird flu in poultry in Kenosha County, marking the first detection in the state in some time. Dr. Darlene Konkel, Wisconsin’s State Veterinarian, shared insights about the situation, emphasizing biosecurity measures for all livestock producers.
The strain responsible, H5N1, has been circulating in North America for years. However, Dr. Konkel clarified, “The genotype affecting poultry is different from the one found in dairy cattle herds in some states.” While there’s no evidence linking the poultry cases in Wisconsin to the cattle genotype, biosecurity remains critical.