Pathfinder
Editor, Senior Moderator
[h=3]MDARD Asking Poultry and Domestic Bird Owners to Increase Biosecurity Efforts[/h] Agency: Agriculture and Rural Development
For immediate release: March 30, 2015
Media contact: Jennifer Holton, 517-284-5724 or holtonj@michigan.gov
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is encouraging domestic bird owners to increase their biosecurity efforts and take appropriate steps to protect their birds from avian influenza. Since December 2014, the United States has been experiencing an increase in instances of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) affecting poultry in multiple states.
?Arkansas, Missouri, and Minnesota have detected avian influenza in commercial flocks recently which raises concerns that Michigan may be next as wild waterfowl will be migrating north soon,? said State Veterinarian Dr. James Averill. ?The cause of infection for these birds is still unknown, but in the meantime domestic bird owners need to take appropriate steps to mitigate interactions with domestic and wild birds.?
Avian influenza is a viral disease that can infect wild birds and domestic poultry. Birds get the flu just as people do and, as with people, some forms of the flu are worse than others. HPAI can spread fast and quickly kill chickens and turkeys. Wild birds, however, can carry the virus without appearing sick.
No human infections with this virus have been reported, and the Centers for Disease Control considers the risk to people from this highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza to be low. In addition, poultry and eggs are safe to consume as long as they are properly handled and meat is cooked to an internal temperature of 165?F.
Averill recommends the following six steps for protecting domestic birds from H5 avian influenza:
? Keep your distance ? Restrict access to your property and keep your birds away from other birds. Keep your poultry away from open ponds and waterways that may be visited by migrating waterfowl.
? Keep it clean ? Wash your hands thoroughly before and after working with birds. Clean and disinfect equipment.
? Don?t haul disease home ? Buy birds from sources that have disease monitoring programs and keep new birds separated for at least 30 days.
? Don?t borrow disease ? Don?t share equipment or supplies with neighbors or other bird owners. If you must borrow, disinfect it first.
? Know the warning signs ? Early detection can help prevent the spread of the disease. Check your birds frequently. If you find a sick or dead wild bird, don?t touch it.
? Report sick birds ? If your birds are sick or dying, contact MDARD at 800-292-3939 or for after-hours emergencies 517-373-0440. If you notice dead wild birds, call the Michigan Department of Natural Resources hotline 1-800-292-7800.
Signs of Avian Influenza may include: lack of appetite and energy; significant drop in egg production; difficulty walking, swollen, head, combs, wattles or legs; nasal discharge, sneezing, coughing; bloody diarrhea, or sudden death.
For more information, visit http://healthybirds.aphis.usda.gov.
...
https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/0,4610,7-125-1572_3628-351167--,00.html
For immediate release: March 30, 2015
Media contact: Jennifer Holton, 517-284-5724 or holtonj@michigan.gov
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is encouraging domestic bird owners to increase their biosecurity efforts and take appropriate steps to protect their birds from avian influenza. Since December 2014, the United States has been experiencing an increase in instances of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) affecting poultry in multiple states.
?Arkansas, Missouri, and Minnesota have detected avian influenza in commercial flocks recently which raises concerns that Michigan may be next as wild waterfowl will be migrating north soon,? said State Veterinarian Dr. James Averill. ?The cause of infection for these birds is still unknown, but in the meantime domestic bird owners need to take appropriate steps to mitigate interactions with domestic and wild birds.?
Avian influenza is a viral disease that can infect wild birds and domestic poultry. Birds get the flu just as people do and, as with people, some forms of the flu are worse than others. HPAI can spread fast and quickly kill chickens and turkeys. Wild birds, however, can carry the virus without appearing sick.
No human infections with this virus have been reported, and the Centers for Disease Control considers the risk to people from this highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza to be low. In addition, poultry and eggs are safe to consume as long as they are properly handled and meat is cooked to an internal temperature of 165?F.
Averill recommends the following six steps for protecting domestic birds from H5 avian influenza:
? Keep your distance ? Restrict access to your property and keep your birds away from other birds. Keep your poultry away from open ponds and waterways that may be visited by migrating waterfowl.
? Keep it clean ? Wash your hands thoroughly before and after working with birds. Clean and disinfect equipment.
? Don?t haul disease home ? Buy birds from sources that have disease monitoring programs and keep new birds separated for at least 30 days.
? Don?t borrow disease ? Don?t share equipment or supplies with neighbors or other bird owners. If you must borrow, disinfect it first.
? Know the warning signs ? Early detection can help prevent the spread of the disease. Check your birds frequently. If you find a sick or dead wild bird, don?t touch it.
? Report sick birds ? If your birds are sick or dying, contact MDARD at 800-292-3939 or for after-hours emergencies 517-373-0440. If you notice dead wild birds, call the Michigan Department of Natural Resources hotline 1-800-292-7800.
Signs of Avian Influenza may include: lack of appetite and energy; significant drop in egg production; difficulty walking, swollen, head, combs, wattles or legs; nasal discharge, sneezing, coughing; bloody diarrhea, or sudden death.
For more information, visit http://healthybirds.aphis.usda.gov.
...
https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/0,4610,7-125-1572_3628-351167--,00.html