North Carolina - State Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler: Avian flu likely in NC this fall

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Troxler: Avian flu likely in NC this fall

Posted 34 minutes ago
Updated 23 minutes ago
By Laura Leslie

RALEIGH, N.C. ? State Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler told lawmakers Tuesday that he expects migrating waterfowl to bring the avian flu to North Carolina this fall.
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Troxler told the Senate Agriculture Committee the virus has not yet shown up in North Carolina, but he believes the state will see it by fall, "spread through wild populations of poultry and waterfowl."

Eastern North Carolina is part of what's known as the "Southern flyway," a major migratory path for wild birds.
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Read more at http://www.wral.com/troxler-avian-fl...ZHodIr0gKpi.99

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NC ag officials concerned with impact of avian flu

Posted: May 20, 2015 4:01 PM CDT
Updated: May 20, 2015 4:05 PM CDT
by Beau Minnick, WNCN

RALEIGH, N.C. -

State agricultural officials are concerned with the spread of the Avian flu to North Carolina and its impact on egg prices.

While the avian flu hasn't reached North Carolina yet, it could as soon as August.
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Assistant Agriculture Commissioner Joe Reardon believes the virus could arrive in just a few months.

?Our concern is later this year in the fall, those same birds will be migrating through the eastern flyway back through North Carolina and will bring it with them,? Reardon said.

Poultry in North Carolina is an $18 billion industry, employing around 100,000 people.
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Reardon said if the flu hits North Carolina, it would be ?absolutely devastating.?
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http://www.wncn.com/story/29117547/nc-ag-officials-concerned-with-impact-of-avian-flu