Avian influenza spread beyond a backyard coop on an Illinois farm, analysis finds
An outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus that nearly wiped out an Illinois farmer's backyard flock also spread to a domestic cat and wild rats on the farm, an analysis of the animals by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and the University of Missouri Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory found.
An analysis conducted by the University of Illinois and University of Missouri Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories reveals that avian influenza spread beyond a backyard flock on an Illinois farm. The virus infected a cat and wild rats on the farm, most likely due to contact with dead or dying infected birds. This discovery highlights the potential for avian influenza to spread to other animals and underscores the importance of vigilance among farmers, backyard coop owners, and veterinarians.
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