The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed the presence of H5N2 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a commercial turkey flock in Kingsbury County, S.D.
This is the second confirmation in a commercial flock in South Dakota. The flock of 34,000 turkeys is located within the Central flyway where this strain of avian influenza has previously been identified.
Samples from the turkey flock, which experienced increased mortality, were tested at the South Dakota State University Animal Disease Research & Diagnostic Laboratory, and the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa, confirmed the findings.
APHIS is working closely with the South Dakota Board of Animal Health on a joint incident response. State officials quarantined the premises and birds on the property will be depopulated to prevent the spread of the disease. Birds from the flock will not enter the food system.
The first discovery of HPAI in South Dakota, announced April 2, was a 53,000-turkey flock in neighboring Beadle County.
