Bird flu found in Gage County flock

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – The Nebraska Department of Agriculture confirmed a case of bird flu Wednesday in a commercial flock in Gage County.

Dr. Roger Dudley, the state veterinarian, said it’s Nebraska’s first case of avian flu in a few months.

State officials are reminding poultry owners to monitor for and protect their birds from highly pathogenic avian influenza.

“It’s important for producers to know the signs and symptoms of HPAI and to continue to practice good biosecurity measures to help prevent the spread of this disease into their flocks,” Dudley said.

The Agriculture Department said birds can catch the flu through contact with other birds’ nasal and eye secretions, as well as manure.

The symptoms of the virus in poultry include drinking less water, producing fewer eggs, coughing, sneezing and diarrhea.

Infected birds can die suddenly, even if they have no other symptoms.

Poultry with signs of bird flu should be reported to the state Agriculture Department at 402-471-2351 or the U.S. Department of Agriculture at 866-536-7593.