OK, Finally had a call from Bill, NPIP guy heading up the task force on the AI issues going on and here's the latest scoop.
4 MO Counties are currently under quarantine Barton, Jasper, Moniteau and Morgan. This means NO birds, eggs, chicks, in or out. Positive tests require attempts to test ALL poultry within a 6.2 mile radius. As this circumference spans county boarders - that's why 4 counties are involved. Only 2 areas have tested positive, outside of Joplin and just North of Versailles. They will continue under quarantine for at least 3 more weeks. Retesting will be done in 2 weeks and if the weather doesn't have another cold snap to push migrating birds back south it's hopeful that this should be the end of this at least until next fall when waterfowl will migrate south again.
In the Jasper county (Joplin area) 389 residences were canvassed for poultry. 23 sites were found, 19 tested and all of those were clear. The other 4 simply couldn't catch up all their birds.
Outside of these 4 counties auction houses and such placing a moratorium on poultry is strictly voluntary. I asked about JC and other swaps as those are generally not "official" regulated events. Now, JC is pretty close to Versailles and finial word should come down on Thursday this week but Bill doesn't feel an arbitrary shut down on poultry is warranted. He and other officials may very likely be there and checking for poultry people from those four counties - only because JC may not monitor this themselves.
Waterfowl can carry the H1N5 without it bothering them much, geese to some extent but primarily the issue has been with ducks. Chickens are not particularly susceptible. Turkeys are extremely susceptible and the two sites have been turkey houses. Signs are upper resp. symptoms and bloody spray similar to typhoid but birds may be symptom free - until they fall over dead. Spread is rapid, as is death.
When asked about protecting flocks, those with mixed flocks are at highest risk. Ducks, geese ( and of course turkeys) should be confined and not allowed to range - particularly around farm ponds and areas where migrating ducks congregate. Again - it's primarily ducks spreading this (snow geese I guess are actually ducks).
Otherwise, normal good bio security is recommend - as always.
So, the good news is unless we get another cold snap this all should pretty well be over in a few weeks until next fall - when migration occurs as it does every year. Outbreaks are not popping up all over, spreading all over the state. Confining ducks, geese and turkeys during migration every year would make sense. Take precautions but there is no need to panic in fear of a wildfire epidemic threatening all our poultry.
WHEW!
4 MO Counties are currently under quarantine Barton, Jasper, Moniteau and Morgan. This means NO birds, eggs, chicks, in or out. Positive tests require attempts to test ALL poultry within a 6.2 mile radius. As this circumference spans county boarders - that's why 4 counties are involved. Only 2 areas have tested positive, outside of Joplin and just North of Versailles. They will continue under quarantine for at least 3 more weeks. Retesting will be done in 2 weeks and if the weather doesn't have another cold snap to push migrating birds back south it's hopeful that this should be the end of this at least until next fall when waterfowl will migrate south again.
In the Jasper county (Joplin area) 389 residences were canvassed for poultry. 23 sites were found, 19 tested and all of those were clear. The other 4 simply couldn't catch up all their birds.
Outside of these 4 counties auction houses and such placing a moratorium on poultry is strictly voluntary. I asked about JC and other swaps as those are generally not "official" regulated events. Now, JC is pretty close to Versailles and finial word should come down on Thursday this week but Bill doesn't feel an arbitrary shut down on poultry is warranted. He and other officials may very likely be there and checking for poultry people from those four counties - only because JC may not monitor this themselves.
Waterfowl can carry the H1N5 without it bothering them much, geese to some extent but primarily the issue has been with ducks. Chickens are not particularly susceptible. Turkeys are extremely susceptible and the two sites have been turkey houses. Signs are upper resp. symptoms and bloody spray similar to typhoid but birds may be symptom free - until they fall over dead. Spread is rapid, as is death.
When asked about protecting flocks, those with mixed flocks are at highest risk. Ducks, geese ( and of course turkeys) should be confined and not allowed to range - particularly around farm ponds and areas where migrating ducks congregate. Again - it's primarily ducks spreading this (snow geese I guess are actually ducks).
Otherwise, normal good bio security is recommend - as always.
So, the good news is unless we get another cold snap this all should pretty well be over in a few weeks until next fall - when migration occurs as it does every year. Outbreaks are not popping up all over, spreading all over the state. Confining ducks, geese and turkeys during migration every year would make sense. Take precautions but there is no need to panic in fear of a wildfire epidemic threatening all our poultry.
WHEW!
