Providence Poultry Farm Euthanizes 445 Birds After H5N1 Detection, Reopening Set for June 19
Updated
Updated · Turn to 10 · Jun 16
Providence Poultry Farm Euthanizes 445 Birds After H5N1 Detection, Reopening Set for June 19
3 articles · Updated · Turn to 10 · Jun 16
Summary
Antonelli Poultry in Providence culled more than 445 chickens, ducks and guinea fowl after routine USDA testing detected H5N1 in the flock.
Every submitted test tube came back positive, state veterinarian Scott Marshall said, with samples run in batches of 11 and all birds euthanized Saturday before disposal on Monday.
Rhode Island health officials said the source has not been confirmed, but the virus likely originated outside the state because Antonelli buys birds from out-of-state dealers.
RIDOH is monitoring employees for 10 days and said human risk remains low because infections are mainly tied to close animal contact, not known human-to-human spread.
Antonelli is scheduled to reopen on Friday, June 19, as officials note H5N1 is widespread and often carried by migratory wild birds into poultry operations.