Avian influenza found in South Carolina

[Painted Calls]

Following.

Stay safe, Heather.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

In some parts of California authorities were euthanizing ALL poultry within quarantine zones, even if poultry were confined in covered pens, and even if poultry were kept in a person's house. I believe the draconian practice was eventually stopped due to massive public outcry.

North and South Carolina are both in the Atlantic migratory flyway, so poultry keepers in those states should pay attention for further developments. The central flyway states (of which my state is a part) had a big scare back in 2015, when millions of commercial layer hens were euthanized after avian flu was confirmed in some northern states within the central flyway zone. No need to panic, but if I currently lived in Atlantic flyway states I would keep watch for any further spread. And I would be prepared to pen poultry i wished to keep under a covered roof until any quarantined areas are given the all-clear.

The most recent mass cull in CA I am aware of was in resonse to Newcastle. A number of commercial flocks were destroyed - more than a million birds in 2019, plus smaller culls in other states triggered by people moving poultry out of the quarantine areas.

The Mediterranean basin, I believe, has an AI problem right now. France has killed in excess of 600k birds, Israel more than 500k, plus thousands of threatened cranes, in an effort to get control over it. I understand it to be H9N2, which is generally low pathogenic (LPAI) in chickens, and has only rarely infected humans.

International Situation

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

The most recent mass cull in CA I am aware of was in resonse to Newcastle. A number of commercial flocks were destroyed - more than a million birds in 2019, plus smaller culls in other states triggered by people moving poultry out of the quarantine areas.

The Mediterranean basin, I believe, has an AI problem right now. France has killed in excess of 600k birds, Israel more than 500k, plus thousands of threatened cranes, in an effort to get control over it. I understand it to be H9N2, which is generally low pathogenic (LPAI) in chickens, and has only rarely infected humans.

International Situation

Yes you are correct the most recent issue in California was Newcastle disease; my memory was confused!

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Yes you are correct the most recent issue in California was Newcastle disease; my memory was confused!

Easy to do - the point remains, a LOT of birds were killed before they got a handle on the disease, and a lot of birds were killed that should not have been, if only people living in the quarantined area didn't "save" birds by rehoming them elsewhere, bringing the disease to AZ and UT as well. A decade before, it was CA, NV, AZ, and TX.

AI has the same potential for well meaning idiots to help it spread while "protecting" the family pet, and the same likely consequences - 100s of thousands of dead birds in an effort to control the disease, with the decimation of some commercial flocks.

 

[Mrs J]

In my personal opinion, 20 is a huge difference to 1 or even 3. I just can't imagine 20, unless he had a basement or something like that. I've had to keep my youngest 3 in the bathroom before. They are little Call Ducks, but still messy little girls that can send poop and wet mushy food flying in places that will surprise anyone! I was reading a post here on BYC not too long ago where a lady had fixed up her basement to let her ducks to stay in there. She had a drain in the floor to wash away any poop or soggy food (although it's about the same thing when talking ducks ). That doesn't seem as bad to me, but I haven't experienced it or cleaned up after them. 20 ducks seems excessive but I guess it depends. There are some massive homes and some have separate wings or a basement, but still 20 ducks is a lot to clean up after. I wonder if he moved them indoors in hopes of protecting them from the AI? That's just so sad and crazy that that strain killed him. If I had a basement like that, I don't know if I could handle my 17 ducks and even more chickens. Either way, sounds like there's no way around this, only through it.

@3KillerBs did you see that it's now been discovered in NC

He was very lonely and ended up taking them inside. It’s so sad! Good news is he has fully recovered

Such a sad story! They have been culled and he has been banned from keeping ducks for 12 months. He’s heartbroken

 

[Folly's place]

Best to be proactive, protect your flock now. Covered runs, no free ranging. Miserable, but safest.
Mary

 

[3KillerBs]

@3KillerBs did you see that it's now been discovered in NC

No, I had not.

I'm not feeling well these last few days and haven't looked at the news.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

No, I had not.

I'm not feeling well these last few days and haven't looked at the news.

Sorry both that you have not been feeling well and that this is the news you are waking up to. Hopes for a full and fast recovery.

 

[Sara S]

Wait people come and kill your chickens for no reason?

 

[raingarden]

No, I had not.

I'm not feeling well these last few days and haven't looked at the news.

I hope you don't have bird flu!

Sorry, it's pandemic PTSD.