Bird flu confirmed on third farm in eastern Nebraska; 400,000 chickens to be killed

The flock will be killed and disposed of properly, the Agriculture Department says.  

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – The Nebraska Department of Agriculture announced Thursday that it has confirmed the bird flu at another farm in Butler County.

Bird flu was found in a flock of 400,000 chickens within the 6.2-mile control zone that NDA established earlier this week around another infected farm.

The first farm to report a case of bird flu was in Merrick County on March 16.

“The locations of the Butler County farms are in close proximity to each other,” NDA Director Steve Wellman said. “This further emphasizes continued diligence of biosecurity and timely response to control this highly contagious disease.”

READ MORE: Nebraska poultry farmers warned of bird flu

The infected flock will be killed and disposed of properly, the department says.

Producers in the area should keep an eye out for signs of bird flu and should notify NDA immediately of sick or dying poultry.