A second case of low pathogenic avian influenza was confirmed Thursday at a poultry facility in Giles County, Tennessee, according to officials with the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and the Tennessee State Veterinarian Dr. Charles Hatcher.

This breeder chicken facility is operated by a different company than the one associated with the recent detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Lincoln County. At this time, there is no known connection between the two sites.

“As part of Alabama’s HPAI Preparedness and Response Plan we continue to test and monitor for avian influenza on a daily basis,” Alabama State Veterinarian Dr. Tony Frazier stated. “The immediate response the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDAI) has taken is critical to stopping the spread of this virus into Alabama.”

As a precaution, the affected flock was depopulated immediately and has been properly disposed of. The facility is under quarantine, along with one other commercial farm and all backyard poultry flocks within a 6.2-mile radius of the site. TDAI and federal officials are working together to test and monitor other flocks within the quarantined control zone. To date, all additional samples have tested negative for avian influenza and no other flocks within the area have experienced an increase in mortality.

According to the TDAI, on March 6, officials at the commercial breeder operation in Giles County performed routine screening tests on the flock that indicated the presence of the virus. Testing at state and federal laboratories confirmed the presence of LPAI in samples from that flock.

The Lincoln County facility affected by HPAI also remains under quarantine. To date, all additional samples from the Lincoln County quarantined control zone have tested negative for avian influenza and no other flocks within the area have experienced an increase in mortality. Testing and monitoring continues.

“We are staying in constant communication with appropriate state and federal agencies as well as poultry industry stakeholders to keep a watchful eye on the situation currently unfolding,” said Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries John McMillan. ”Dr. Frazier and our staff have always been focused on animal health and disease prevention. Each year, our four diagnostic labs located in Alabama test over 400,000 blood samples for avian influenza for this very purpose.”

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System has created a website to assist backyard flock owners with maintaining healthy birds and to provide answers for Avian Influenza control. It can be found at www.AlabamaAvianInfluenza.com.