ODA Reminding Bird Owners To Prepare For HPAI
Oregon’s Department of Agriculture is renewing calls for backyard and commercial poultry farmers to protect against bird flu. State Veterinarian Ryan Scholz said Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, or bird flu, isn’t going anywhere. And he noted, much like the human flu, the season ramps up in the fall.
“Those wild waterfowl - the wild ducks and geese - that migrate through Oregon on their southward journey. They really are what brings this virus into our area, and really pose the most risk.”
On Friday, October 11th, Washington reported its first bird flu case of the season at a commercial poultry farm in Franklin County. Oregon’s last detection was in March, but Dr. Scholz said the ODA is preparing.
“Even more so in the last 6-9 months, developing plans; developing how we will respond, not only to control disease in animal populations, but as well as prevent spillover in human populations if that happens. We do have rapid response plans in place."
He said on-farm biosecurity is critical; primarily, keeping the domestic birds away from areas where they might come in contact with wild birds. So far, Oregon has had no cases of bird flu in dairy cattle or humans, as some other states have reported.
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