H5N1 avian influenza has been detected in pig in the United States, the first ever that has been confirmed by the United States Department’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ohe backyard farm.
The pig was not on a hog farm, but in a back yard in a Crook County site housing a mix of livestock and poultry, where the virus was initially found in poultry on Oct. 25.
Despite showing no symptoms, the affected pig was among five on the farm tested due to the presence of H5N1 in other animals. Two swine tested negative, and results are pending for two others. All swine were euthanized to facilitate further diagnostic work.
The site has been quarantined to prevent further transmission, with additional surveillance ongoing for sheep, goats, and other animals. The USDA said genetic sequencing so far suggests no increased risk to humans.
