Current Oklahoma Disease Alerts
A main priority of our Animal Industry Services division is to ensure the health of our Oklahoma livestock herds. This list will include current outbreaks facing our region, in addition to diseases that are common around certain times of the year.
Additionally, some alerts and information on Foreign Animal Diseases can be found here. Foreign Animal Diseases are serious diseases and pests that do not currently exist in the United States. If introduced here, they pose a severe threat to the health of the herds and flocks in the U.S., be economically devastating, and could have a detrimental effect on human health.
About HPAI
- For any general questions, a 2-1-1 phone line is currently active and can be called 24 hours a day. If the 211 call line does not have an answer to your question, they will connect you with an ODAFF employee for an answer.
- Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza – is a serious disease and requires rapid response because it is highly contagious and often fatal to chickens.
- ODAFF Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Overview Handout
- Guidance for Hunters on how to Protect Yourself and Birds from HPAI
- USDA’s Defend the Flock Resources
- Questions and Answers Regarding the Safety of Eggs During Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Outbreaks | FDA
- Oklahoma State Extension HPAI Overview
- Youtube Recording of 5/2 HPAI Webinar
Current Oklahoma Situation on HPAI
- November 1, 2023
- Confirmed positive cases of HPAI detected in backyard flocks in Wagoner County and Grady County.
- October 16, 2023
- Confirmed positive case of HPAI detected in Carter County in mixed flock of poultry.
- October 20, 2022
- Join us to learn more about HPAI and get a status update regarding the current. A recording of the meeting will be posted following the event.
- Industry Partners Town Hall
October 20, 3:00 p.m. - HPAI Town Hall for Backyard Flock Owners
October 20, 6:30 p.m.
- Industry Partners Town Hall
- Join us to learn more about HPAI and get a status update regarding the current. A recording of the meeting will be posted following the event.
- October 18, 2022
- Confirmed positive case of HPAI detected in Creek County in backyard flock.
- October 14, 2022
- Confirmed positive case of HPAI detected in Tulsa County in a backyard flock. The flock has been depopulated.
- Statewide ban on poultry exhibition, public sales and swap meets ordered until July 30, 2022 by State Veterinarian, Dr. Rod Hall.
- May 1, 2022
- Confirmed positive case of HPAI detected in Sequoyah County in a commercial flock. The flock has been depopulated and disposed of.
Press Release
- Confirmed positive case of HPAI detected in Sequoyah County in a commercial flock. The flock has been depopulated and disposed of.
- March 29, 2022
- The first positive case of High Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) was detected in Oklahoma in a wild duck.
- Press Release
- 2022 Detections of HPAI
FAQs Regarding HPAI
How is it transmitted?
Avian influenza is most often spread by direct contact between infected birds and healthy birds. It may also be spread indirectly through contact with contaminated equipment and biological secretions and/or excretions. The avian influenza virus is found in secretions from the nares (nostrils), mouth, and eyes of infected birds and is also excreted in their droppings (excreta). Contact with contaminated droppings is the most common means of bird-to-bird transmission, although airborne secretions are another important means of transmission, especially within poultry houses. Droppings from wild ducks can introduce avian influenza into domestic flocks raised on range or in open flight pens.
The spread of avian influenza between poultry facilities almost always results from the movement of infected birds or contaminated people and equipment (including clothing, boots, and vehicles). Although more pathogenic strains of avian influenza virus can completely suppress egg production, the less pathogenic strains of the virus can be found on the inner and outer surfaces of egg shells; however, this has never resulted in hatchery transmission. Airborne transmission of avian influenza virus from farm to farm is highly unlikely because the virus cannot travel long distances through the air and it is susceptible to the effects of sun light and drying.
Influenza viruses that are considered to be highly pathogenic avian influenza can be spread from birds to people as a result of extensive direct contact with infected birds, such as during home slaughter or defeathering of infected poultry. Public health concerns center around the potential for the virus to mutate or combine with other influenza viruses to a form a new strain that could easily spread from person to person.
Can I get avian influenza from eating poultry or eggs?
You cannot get avian influenza from eggs and poultry products that have been prepared and cooked properly. Always store poultry products and eggs according to directions on the package.
What are signs of HPAI?
The most common signs of HPAI include sudden death, decreased food and water consumption, lethargy, respiratory distress, nasal discharge, purple discoloration or swelling around the legs and head, a drop in egg production, and diarrhea.
How do bird owners keep their birds safe?
There is no cure for HPAI. Good biosecurity is the key to keeping poultry safe. Urge your clients to:
- Keep wild birds and rodents out of poultry houses and coops and away from backyard flocks and pet birds.
- Secure feed bins and water and consider removing bird feeders to avoid attracting wild birds.
- Keep visitors away from birds and avoid visiting other poultry farms or other people’s birds.
- Wash hands and scrub boots before and after entering a poultry area. Wear disposable boot covers and coveralls, if possible. If you’ve been in areas frequented by waterfowl, change clothes and shoes before handling poultry.
- Isolate new birds or those returning from shows for 30 days before introducing them to the flock.
- Immediately report sick birds to our State Veterinarian’s office at 405-522-6141
Report a Pest Form
If you suspect you have any of the invasive insects or disease on our list. Take a picture, not a sample and send it to us. Or, fill out the form below and just let us know about it! Your personal information will be kept confidential, but we may need to contact you for further information.
For a complete list of diseases consumers and producers should be aware of, visit our list of Reportable and Foreign Animal Diseases.
- African Swine Fever – Confirmed in Western Hemisphere (Dominican Republic) week of July 31, 2021.
- Asian Giant Hornets – The Asian giant hornet (AGH) is a social wasp species. Its native range extends from northern India to East Asia. It has since been detected in the far northwest corner of Washington State, but has not been detected in Oklahoma or any surrounding states. For information on AGH and their lookalikes, check out this flyer.
- Gypsy Moths – if you suspect Gypsy Moths or have questions regarding them, please email Kenny.naylor@odaff-staging.kochcomm.dev
Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Factsheets
Map of Current RHD Cases in U.S.
Cleaning and Disinfectant Guidance
Disinfection Options from USDA
About RHD
- RHD is a highly contagious, fatal viral disease in rabbits caused by multiple virus strains. It is an internationally reportable disease to the world organization for animal health (OIE).
- Only laboratory tests can confirm a diagnosis of RHD. However, RHD should be suspected if a rabbitry experiences illness in most/all rabbits, high fevers, poor appetites, depression, inactivity, bloody discharges, seizures, and/or sudden death. Usually RHDV2 is associated with mass morbidity (illness) and mortality (death) in a colony or herd.
- We encourage rabbit owners to practice good biosecurity to help prevent the introduction of the disease into their rabbitries. Isolate new rabbits away from the general population for two weeks prior to adding them to the general population. When taking rabbits to shows isolate them from the general population for two weeks to make sure they did not contract a disease while exposed to the other show rabbits.
- We would also like to remind rabbit producers that Certificates of Veterinary Inspection are required for rabbits that come into Oklahoma from another state, and that it is the responsibility of the manager of a show or sale to verify that out of state rabbits were transported with a CVI.
- If you have questions, please contact Animal Industry Division veterinarians at 405-522-6141.
Current Oklahoma Situation on RHD
- As of this date, the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry has no restrictions on rabbit shows, sales, or movements within the state.
- We ask rabbit owners, breeders, and exhibitors to continue to check back to this site for updates and to distribute the correct information to rabbit social media sites.
FAQs Regarding RHD
How is RHD transmitted?
Rabbit hemorrhagic disease spreads between rabbits mostly by ingestion and inhalation of the virus. RHD is not transmitted from rabbits to humans. The virus is present in urine and feces from infected rabbits, so contaminated bedding, food or forage can be a source of infection. The virus can be moved from place to place mechanical vectors and fomites (flies, predators, scavengers, feral domestic and wild rabbits, vehicle tires, clothing, footwear, cages, equipment, and wind and water movement).
Can humans, dogs or other animals contract RHD?
RHD is not a zoonotic disease and there is no public health significance. RHD is specific to rabbits. Dogs, cats, and other pets cannot contract the disease, but can transport the virus just like vehicles, shoes, and equipment can.
What precautions should I take if I hunt rabbits or harvest domestic rabbits for food?
RHDV2 can persist in chilled or frozen rabbit meat for an undetermined period and may be a source of infection for domestic and wild rabbits. If you find a wild dead rabbit in an area with known infection of RDHV, do not take the carcass home for human or animal consumption and
do not process the pelt for sale or use. Careful biosecurity considerations for handling meat should be taken. Meat should be cooked thoroughly, all surfaces in contact with meat should be cleaned and disinfected and effective hand washing practices should be employed. Rabbits that die of RHD should not be frozen for human consumption due to the risk of virus persistence in the frozen meat and risk of herd reinfection.
Can I use a rabbit that has died of RHDV for human or animal consumption?
Not recommended. Although there is no public health concern with RHDV, the virus can persist for long periods of time and could infect or reinfect a premises. Viable virus has been detected in the tissue of infected carcasses for up to 90 days; it persists in chilled or frozen rabbit meat
for years. Meat and pelts from wild or domestic rabbits that died from RDHV during an outbreak should not be processed, transported or sold. If you have rabbits that have later been confirmed with RHDV, you should clean out your freezer and dispose of rabbits that likely died of RHDV.
Is a vaccine available?
Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry has authorized veterinarians to offer the Medgene Labs vaccine for rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2. State Vet, Dr. Rod Hall recommends rabbit owners who are interested in having their rabbits vaccinated contact their veterinarians for more information. Veterinarians may order the vaccine by contacting Medgene Labs directly at 605-697-2600. Additional information on the vaccine, can be found at: https://medgenelabs.com/rhdv2-vaccine/.
The week of July 31, USDA confirmed presence of African Swine Fever in the Dominican Republic. ODAFF and the Oklahoma Pork Council co-hosted a webinar on August 3 regarding this matter to provide details. Following State Vet, Dr. Hall’s overview, he hosted an open question and answer segment along with Kylee Deniz, Oklahoma Pork Council Executive Director. Click here to watch the webinar.
African Swine Fever Powerpoint: Download
“Protect Our Pigs” is an African Swine Fever awareness campaign to support commercial pork producers, veterinarians, and pig owners with information and resources to help safeguard America’s swine population and the pork industry.