Nebraska Officials Detect Avian Flu Near Lincoln's Holmes Lake

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Nebraska officials have detected Avian Flu in the state. The Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) made the announcement Monday following a report a wild goose was showing symptoms.

NDA tested the bird from Holmes Lake in Lincoln, which came back positive for the so-called bird flu.

Birds get the disease from fecal matter or from humans. Although not deemed a public health concern for humans by the CDC, newly appointed state veterinarian Roger Dudley said the virus can kill poultry before symptoms even occur. He said with precautions from farmers this round of infection can have minimal impact on the economy.

“We hope that if we can detect the virus soon, shut the virus down before it spreads to the next place,” Dudley said, “we can minimize the financial effects on producers and consumers.”

Dudley said symptoms of the virus in poultry include decreased water consumption, coughing, sneezing, and others.

Lincoln Premium Poultry in Fremont produces 2 million birds per week and started last week to limit guests, test birds and talk with state and federal agencies about possible plans. Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha decided to close off its aviary to the public last week. This is the first case in Nebraska since 2015 when the bird flu killed 50 million chickens and turkeys in the U.S.

Avian flu was detected in both Iowa and South Dakota in the past week. According to the CDC, 13 states have seen commercial or backyard poultry cases of bird flu this year.