WASHINGTON – The Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH) announced that certain control areas were lifted following the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).

The state agency said the surrounding sites of Greene County, sites near G1 and G2, were lifted as of March 15.

“Commercial farms in the control areas are no longer under quarantine, weekly and bi-weekly surveillance testing is no longer required, and movement permits are eliminated. Surveillance of backyard flocks in the control areas is wrapping up this week,” BOAH said. “Owners will receive notice of the quarantine release by mail.”  

However, G1 and G2 farms remain under quarantine until the final steps of the flock plan are completed. Final actives include compost disposal, virus elimination, environmental sampling for the presence of the virus and a fallow period. 

The USDA required some other conditions to lift the control area around Greene County, including the depopulation of infected places and no HPAI-positive diagnostics being defined in that area for 14 days.  

The agency added that initial virus elimination activities on the last infected premises are complete, including outside areas of the site, equipment and trucks in depopulation areas. 

Numbers provided by BOAH showed that HPAI infected 171,224 commercial turkeys in Dubois and Greene County. Throughout Indiana, six affected premises were identified by the state.  

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the US Department of Agriculture confirmed the first cases in February.