CHARLESTON, W.Va. –As the ongoing threat of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza or the bird flu rises, the West Virginia Department of Agriculture has suspended all poultry exhibitions and sales events.

West Virginia has been watching the ongoing threat since 2022 and has been working with poultry industry stakeholders and interagency partners to prepare for, if and when there was an outbreak in the state.

As of right now, the suspension, which effects exhibitions, shows, swaps, meets, and the sale of poultry at flea markets or auction markets, is in effect until early April. When April comes around, they will review the situation based off of the weather, temperature, and the movement of birds.

WV Agriculture Commissioner Kent Leonhardt says that they know that the outbreak is linked mostly to waterfowl and March is the biggest migration North for those birds.

There have been confirmed cases in commercial poultry operations in surrounding states and in a backyard flock in Pocahontas County, and Leonhardt said this is what led to the suspension.

“Well, it’s a continuation of the growths and it’s also that it’s earlier this year than we normally see, and we’re also seeing it in our surrounding states,” he said.

While they’ve been keeping an eye on the outbreak for three years, he says they will continue those efforts to monitor the situation

“We’re just going to keep evaluating things as we go along, and our primary goal is to protect the poultry industry, whether it be private, commercial, or backyard flocks,” Leonhardt said.

While the virus has been detected locally, federal and state wildlife agencies have confirmed that they have detected some cases in wild bird populations because of their continuous surveillance efforts.

For poultry, Leonhardt says that when the virus does infect a bird, it will most likely kill the animal. And when they finally detect that it was in fact, the bird flu, they have to make sure that the virus doesn’t spread to the rest of the flock.

“And so, what we do is depopulate the flock to prevent it from spreading outside that flock to other birds,” Leonhardt said.

While the virus mainly is transmitted from birds to birds it can transmit to people through the bird’s saliva, nasal secretions or their feces.

The Department of Agriculture has put out a list on how to prevent the spread of disease:

– Limit, monitor, and record any movement of people, vehicles, or animals on or off the farm.

-Permit only essential workers and vehicles to enter the farm.

-Avoid visiting other poultry farms or unnecessary travel off the farm.

-Disinfect equipment, vehicles, footwear, and other items in contact with flocks.

-Change clothes before entering poultry areas and before exiting the property.

-Keep flocks away from wild or migratory birds, especially waterfowl.

-Isolate any ill animals and contact your veterinarian immediately.

The department encourages poultry owners to report unusual deaths in their flock, a drop in egg production, or any sick domestic birds to WVDA’s Animal Health Division at 304-558-2214.

For more information regarding the virus, you can go to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s website here.