Birds at poultry farm in Greene County test positive for bird flu

A commercial poultry breeder in Greene County was informed that the flock tested positive for bird flu, according to the Mississippi Board of Animal Health.

The Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory conducted the tests and it was confirmed at a lab in Ames, Iowa.

According to the Department of Agriculture, avian influenza, or bird flu, does not present a food safety risk; poultry and eggs are safe to eat when handled and cooked properly. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the public health risk associated with avian influenza in birds remains low.

As a reminder, the proper handling and cooking of all poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165 ˚F is recommended as a general food safety precaution.

The State Veterinarian quarantined the affected premises, and birds on the property were euthanized to prevent the spread of the disease. The MBAH is working closely with federal animal health officials in Mississippi on a joint incident response.

The MBAH is actively working with the poultry industry to increase monitoring of flocks statewide.

This finding is the first case of highly pathogenic bird flu in commercial poultry in Mississippi since the spring of 2023. Since November, HPAI has been detected in migratory waterfowl in multiple areas of Mississippi.

The poultry industry was notified and put on high alert to increase biosecurity and surveillance for HPAI.