First commercial case of bird flu found in McPherson County

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — State and federal agriculture officials say they have identified the first case of bird flu in a commercial flock in Kansas. The state agriculture department announced Monday that avian influenza, commonly called bird flu, was identified in a commercial flock in McPherson County. Previously, bird flu was found in four backyard flocks in Kansas. The McPherson firm is under quarantine and its birds will be culled to prevent spreading the disease. Other farms and properties with poultry that are within in about 12 miles of the McPherson firm will not be allowed to move birds or poultry products on or off their property without permission state agriculture officials.