Link:http://www.ksl.com/?sid=33440492&ni...s-warned-about-avian-influenza&s_cid=queue-23
Artical
SALT LAKE CITY — The acting state veterinarian is warning backyard bird owners — including those who raise urban chickens — to be on the alert for a highly deadly bird virus that acts quickly and kills without mercy.
At risk is not only the flock of an individual owner but the entire turkey, chicken and egg industry in Utah, valued at $150 million.
"The most common symptom, unfortunately, is sudden death," said Dr. Warren Hess with the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food.
The agency issued its warning from the backyard of Curt Cutler's home in Woods Cross, where five chickens deliver more than enough eggs for the family to consume. Cutler said he is not especially worried about his birds catching the disease, but added that he runs a clean coop and knows to take precautions.
Avian influenza has already hit Idaho, California, Oregon and Washington, with devastating effects, Hess said.
The state agricultural agency is on high alert, as are the five commercial producers in Utah and the Moroni turkey plant after a wild duck felled by a hunter in Davis County was recently determined to be infected.
"It shuts down U.S. exports. A lot of countries are not accepting poultry exports from the United States, even if they are coming from the East Coast," Hess said.
Waterfowl are carriers of the bug but are not affected. The danger is the transmission of the "bird flu" to domesticated birds and poultry. This strain is not transmitted to humans.
"The fact that we have had only one wild bird diagnosed does not make me comfortable at all," he said.
Hess said commercial producers have already upped their biosecurity precautions, so much of the onus to prevent any spread of the influenza rests with hobbyists and smaller dabblers in poultry.
Agency spokesman Larry Lewis said the industry takes the outbreaks extremely seriously. In 1983, an outbreak caused the deaths of about 17 million chickens, turkeys and guinea fowl in Pennsylvania and Virginia. Management of the outbreak cost about $65 million and led to price hikes in eggs of more than 30 percent.
Lewis said commercial producers often have strict rules for employees that go so far as to forbid any attendance at state or county fairs, mingling with any birds off-hours or any other close encounters.
Hess said it is best to have strict segregation between poultry and other bird species.
Utah poultry, he added, is particularly vulnerable because it is a rest stop along the migratory Pacific flyway for millions of birds, and incidental contact would not be out of the ordinary.
"Our biggest concern is if it gets into our domestic bird population," Hess said.
Public education campaign
In an effort to step up awareness, the agency is mounting a public education campaign aimed at helping backyard bird owners reduce their risk.
A webinar is planned in conjunction with Utah State University from noon to 1 p.m. Feb. 25 atconnect.usu.edu/avianflu, and a bird safety informational brochure is being distributed to area feed stores.
A meeting is also being held at 2 p.m. March 10 at the agency, 350 N. Redwood Road.
Utah Department of Agriculture and Food also has a list of precautionary measures and other information on its website.
Video
http://www.ksl.com/?sid=33440492&ni...s-warned-about-avian-influenza&s_cid=queue-23
Artical
SALT LAKE CITY — The acting state veterinarian is warning backyard bird owners — including those who raise urban chickens — to be on the alert for a highly deadly bird virus that acts quickly and kills without mercy.
At risk is not only the flock of an individual owner but the entire turkey, chicken and egg industry in Utah, valued at $150 million.
"The most common symptom, unfortunately, is sudden death," said Dr. Warren Hess with the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food.
The agency issued its warning from the backyard of Curt Cutler's home in Woods Cross, where five chickens deliver more than enough eggs for the family to consume. Cutler said he is not especially worried about his birds catching the disease, but added that he runs a clean coop and knows to take precautions.
Avian influenza has already hit Idaho, California, Oregon and Washington, with devastating effects, Hess said.
The state agricultural agency is on high alert, as are the five commercial producers in Utah and the Moroni turkey plant after a wild duck felled by a hunter in Davis County was recently determined to be infected.
"It shuts down U.S. exports. A lot of countries are not accepting poultry exports from the United States, even if they are coming from the East Coast," Hess said.
Waterfowl are carriers of the bug but are not affected. The danger is the transmission of the "bird flu" to domesticated birds and poultry. This strain is not transmitted to humans.
The most common symptom, unfortunately, is sudden death.
Hess said the single case in Davis County is cause for alarm, given the highly pathogenic nature of the disease.–Dr. Warren Hess, Utah Dept. of Agriculture and Food
"The fact that we have had only one wild bird diagnosed does not make me comfortable at all," he said.
Hess said commercial producers have already upped their biosecurity precautions, so much of the onus to prevent any spread of the influenza rests with hobbyists and smaller dabblers in poultry.
Agency spokesman Larry Lewis said the industry takes the outbreaks extremely seriously. In 1983, an outbreak caused the deaths of about 17 million chickens, turkeys and guinea fowl in Pennsylvania and Virginia. Management of the outbreak cost about $65 million and led to price hikes in eggs of more than 30 percent.
Lewis said commercial producers often have strict rules for employees that go so far as to forbid any attendance at state or county fairs, mingling with any birds off-hours or any other close encounters.
Hess said it is best to have strict segregation between poultry and other bird species.
Utah poultry, he added, is particularly vulnerable because it is a rest stop along the migratory Pacific flyway for millions of birds, and incidental contact would not be out of the ordinary.
"Our biggest concern is if it gets into our domestic bird population," Hess said.
Public education campaign
In an effort to step up awareness, the agency is mounting a public education campaign aimed at helping backyard bird owners reduce their risk.
A webinar is planned in conjunction with Utah State University from noon to 1 p.m. Feb. 25 atconnect.usu.edu/avianflu, and a bird safety informational brochure is being distributed to area feed stores.
A meeting is also being held at 2 p.m. March 10 at the agency, 350 N. Redwood Road.
Utah Department of Agriculture and Food also has a list of precautionary measures and other information on its website.
Video
http://www.ksl.com/?sid=33440492&ni...s-warned-about-avian-influenza&s_cid=queue-23
