A location in Coffey County was recently placed in quarantine after a positive case of avian influenza.
The Kansas Department of Agriculture doesn’t specify addresses, but it says a “non-commercial back yard” had a positive case Dec. 27. Additional information about the case is pending, although the Kansas Department of Health and Environment says no human cases have been identified in Kansas.
HPAI, or highly pathogenic avian influenza, is spread by migrating waterfowl and can infect domestic poultry, dairy cattle, domestic cats and wild carnivores. Symptoms for birds include coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge, lack of energy and appetite, decreased water consumption, decreased egg production, soft-shelled or misshapen eggs, lack of coordination and diarrhea. Symptoms for humans can resemble traditional influenza but can also include conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye.
The Coffey County case becomes the 40th — and last — positive report of HPAI for 2024. There was an uptick in domestic poultry cases last month as fall migrations increased. KDA has identified HPAI in six non-commercial backyard flocks and two in commercial flocks since Dec. 3.
KDHE says the public health risk remains low, but it is closely monitoring the situation as it unfolds, both in Kansas and across the country. Nationwide, there were almost 70 cases of HPAI last year — nearly all from exposure to poultry or dairy cows and none from person to person.
*Click here for the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s information page.
*Click here for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s information page.
