INDIANAPOLIS – Avian Influenza, H5N1, or simply the bird flu, is continuing to cause problems for farmers across the state. Just within the last week, the Indiana State Board of Animal Health reported that eight flocks have been impacted by the virus.
“We have been dealing with Avian Influenza now for a couple of months,” said Denise Derrer Spears, the public information director with the Indiana State Board of Animal Health. “It varies widely where it happens from one year to the next and what types of flocks are being impacted.”
The problems with bird flu in Indiana go back to 2022. That year, 16 flocks were impacted. Then there was a bit of a break with only one flock impacted in 2023 and two flocks impacted in 2024. But this year, the numbers jumped back up. Since the start of the year, 20 flocks have been impacted.
“Most people are familiar with flu viruses. Humans can get flu, dogs can get flu, all kinds of species can get flu. This particular strain, [H5N1], is one that affects birds and poultry,” Spears said.
Once a bird comes in contact with the virus, Spears says it can spread very easily.
“The virus is present in their droppings,” she said. “So, if you can imagine, if you have wild birds flying over your farm, a flock of geese or something like that, you really have no control on where that virus can be spread.”
When that virus is detected, farmers have to put down the entire flock. Some flocks have fewer than 50 birds while others have more than two million. This has raised some concerns in the past but experts say it has to be done.
“We have to put those birds down because that virus will continue to multiply and build up,” Spears said. “The birds are going to die from it [anyway] and there’s a big risk that the virus will [continue to] spread. It can be airborne and can spread from one farm to another.”
The good news is the CDC says the current public health risk is low and the spread between birds and humans has not been detected in Indiana.
“We have not had any [human] cases of H5N1 in Indiana,” Spears said. “It may be flu season right now but this is not the flu that the hospitals are seeing.”
The Indiana State Board of Animal Health wants to remind everyone that what is at the grocery stores right now is still safe to eat.
“Your eggs and meat at the grocery store are safe,” Spears said. “Those flocks get tested on a regular basis for Avian Influenza. Once it’s identified on the farm, those eggs can no longer go to grocery stores.”
Additionally, for pet owners, experts say it’s important not to feed them anything that is raw including raw eggs, raw poultry or raw milk.
“For pet owners, we do advise not to feed [them] raw eggs or undercooked or raw poultry products or raw milk,” Spears said. “Pets can be susceptible to the H5N1 virus especially cats so as a safety measure, we are reminding pet owners not to feed [them] raw diets.”
Again, in a span of just eight weeks, 20 flocks have been impacted in the state. Experts say there is no sign on when case numbers will slow down.
“It’s really hard to tell when this is going to ease up,” Spears said. “It just varies from year to year on how long this lasts and when you see cases pop up. We have been dealing with this virus, H5N1 since 2022 and it has kind of ebbed and flowed for the last four years. It’s really, really hard to predict [when we will see things ease up].”
To report avian influenza, call the USDA Health Birds Hotline at (866) 536-7583. Signs to look out for include sudden death without clinical signs; lack of energy or appetite; decreased egg production; soft-shelled or misshapen eggs; swelling or purple discoloration of head, eyelids, comb, hocks; nasal discharge; coughing; sneezing; lack of coordination; and diarrhea.
For more information about bird flu in Indiana, click here.
