WASHINGTON, March 11, 2015 – A highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza has spread to Arkansas, the third state where the virus has been reported in the Mississippi flyway this month, all on turkey farms.
The latest finding of the H5N2 strain was in a commercial flock of 40,000 birds in Boone County, Ark., near the Missouri border, according to USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
This follows findings in Minnesota, confirmed March 9, and Missouri, confirmed Monday. As in those states, Arkansas officials have quarantined the infected farm. The remaining birds will be killed.
The virus is believed to travel in waterfowl and other wild birds.
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