A federal laboratory has confirmed a third case of bird flu in southern Tennessee.
H7N9 avian influenza outbreaks earlier this month prompted a South Korean ban on poultry imports and a state poultry health advisory. Samples taken from a Lincoln County flock Tuesday tested positive for high pathogenic bird flu. The flock was previously under quarantine after a chicken farm less than two miles away was found to be infected with high-path avian influenza. Tennessee State Veterinarian Charles Hatcher said the state Department of Agriculture is working to prevent the virus from spreading further.
“When you have within the infected control zone that much possibility of virus being in the area it’s not unexpected to have a break. This is a little bump in the road, but we feel like we’re doing everything we can to control it at this point,” Hatcher said.
Hatcher said biosecurity measures will continue in ‘control zones’ where the bird flu has been detected. The infected flock has been depopulated and poses no risk to the food supply. According to the state ag department the risk of human infection is low. The virus is not the same as the China H7N9 virus affecting Asian countries.