Agriculture officers in Washington and Idaho are persevering with to induce hen producers to be looking out for the extremely pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1.
Washington flock homeowners had been alerted Thursday to 2 extra detections of the illness in Clallam County. This makes six affected flocks in Washington state for the reason that first confirmed detection lower than per week in the past.
In Idaho, seven constructive instances in 5 southern counties have been confirmed since April 15.
Washington state veterinarians are urging flock homeowners to be hypervigilant in guaranteeing there isn’t a farm-to-farm switch of the virus from contaminated flocks and eradicate publicity of home flocks to wild birds as a lot as potential.
“With so many suspicious instances in home flocks and wild birds pending investigation, I can’t emphasize sufficient how essential it’s to keep away from exposing your flock to wild waterfowl, shorebirds, and different home flocks,” stated Dr. Amber Itle, state veterinarian.
The 2 most up-to-date instances of HPAI had been in noncommercial yard flocks in Clallam County and had been confirmed Wednesday. Flock homeowners contacted the state agriculture division’s sick hen hotline to report an uncommon variety of sudden deaths of their flocks in addition to different sick birds.
The 2 flocks had been unrelated, with one flock of a dozen geese and the opposite of 10 chickens. The state veterinarian quarantined each premises and the birds that haven’t already succumbed to the virus will probably be euthanized. Each flocks reported that their birds had direct contact with wild waterfowl.
Itle stated one step flock homeowners ought to proceed to take is stopping contact between their flocks and wild birds by eliminating entry to ponds or standing water on their property and holding completely different home species like geese and geese penned individually from chickens, turkeys, guinea fowl and peacocks. Flock homeowners also needs to restrict entry to their farms, not lend or share farm instruments or tools, and never share or promote eggs from yard flocks. Whereas consuming cooked eggs doesn’t pose a well being danger, transferring eggs off-farm might additionally switch the virus.
“Now’s the time to be further disciplined, even when it appears excessive,” Itle stated. “If flock homeowners might stay diligent for just some weeks till the waterfowl full their migration north, we should always have the ability to get via the worst of it with decrease impression.”
There isn’t any rapid public well being concern due to the avian influenza virus detection. As at all times, the meat from each wild sport birds and home poultry needs to be correctly cooked, officers stated.
Anybody wishing to report uncommon deaths, a number of deaths or sickness amongst home birds to the Washington State Division of Agriculture could name 800-606-3056. Reporting of useless or sick wild birds utilizing the Washington State Division of Fish and Wildlife’s is out there at bit.ly/3N8dzth.