More Bird Flu Cases Confirmed in Washington State

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Extra circumstances of hen flu have been confirmed with the newest in Whatcom and Okanogan counties, Washington state agricultural officers stated Friday.

The circumstances have been confirmed Thursday in non-commercial yard flocks, the state Division of Agriculture stated in an announcement.

Flock house owners contacted the state’s sick hen hotline to report an uncommon variety of sudden deaths and illness of their flocks. The flocks, one with round 100 chickens and the opposite with almost 30 rooster, geese, and geese, are quarantined and can be euthanized, the assertion stated.

Circumstances of avian flu have been additionally confirmed in yard flocks in Spokane County earlier this week and final week in Pacific County.

The most recent outbreak of avian flu hit North America in December and has led to the culling of about 37 million chickens and turkeys in U.S. farms since February. Greater than 35 million birds in flocks throughout 30 states have been affected.

State officers say lowering or eliminating contact between wild birds and home flocks is a key strategy to shield home birds from hen flu. Hen house owners ought to carry their flocks inside or undercover to guard them from wild waterfowl, officers stated.

“If flock house owners might stay diligent for only a few weeks till the waterfowl full their migration north, we’re hopeful we are able to get by means of the worst of it with decrease affect,” Dr. Amber Itle, Washington state veterinarian, stated.

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