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BIRD FLU: Small flocks at risk
State offers low-interest loan program for prevention
By Don Davis
Forum Communications
<!-- begin body-content --> REDWOOD FALLS, Minn. - Commercial poultry producers are well defended against the bird flu, agriculture leaders say, but Minnesotans who own flocks of just a few birds also need to take precautions.
It doesn't cost much money to protect poultry from migratory birds that may carry the virus, and the state just started offering a low-interest loan program for flock owners.
"There are some very simple ways to increase biosecurity," the Agriculture Department's Kevin Elfering said.
For example, he said, birds can be penned in crates that can be moved to new ground periodically. And feed can be placed where migratory birds such as ducks cannot get to it.
Elfering was a panelist Thursday at FarmFest in southwestern Minnesota, where he joined others in telling farmers about dangers of the bird flu, officially known as avian influenza.
Panel members concentrated on the more dangerous strain of bird flu, that many fear soon will mutate so it can pass from human to human. The often-deadly flu now is commonly passed from bird to human in Asia, where people and birds may share a house.
Dr. Marguerite Pappaioanou of the University of Minnesota veterinary school said there may have been cases in Thailand and Indonesia where the flu has passed from human to human, but only in families with close contact with each other and with birds.
Some experts say they fear ducks and other birds flying from Asia could infect Minnesota birds. However, Elfering said he feels a more likely way local birds would get the illness is through feed made from chicken meat.
Elfering, the Agriculture Department's dairy and food inspection director, said a 2-year-old case shows the danger. Feed shipped from China was labeled as shrimp, but it proved to be chicken. Had Minnesota chickens eaten infected chicken-based feed, they could have come down with bird flu.
Commercial poultry producers usually raise birds in confined facilities that prevent contact with migratory birds. Small flocks, however, often are raised in the open and birds flying over the state could land near and mingle with the domestic birds.
The Agriculture Department this week announced it will offer low-interest loans so small-flock owners can increase biosecurity.
"The bad news is, all poultry are at risk from avian influenza, regardless of how they are raised or how many birds are in the flock," Agriculture Commissioner Gene Hugoson said. "The good news is bird owners have the power to protect their birds and their neighbors' birds."
Elfering said all poultry owners should register their birds with the state so they can be notified if the deadly version of bird flu ever strikes.
Pappaioanou said there are 16 strains of bird flu that are not deadly, and there are cases around the United States. A strain known as H5N1 is what has experts concerned.
The flu could become a pandemic if it mutates to a form that can be transmitted between people, affecting up to 40 percent of Americans with an illness lasting 12 weeks.
If that happens, the governor will close schools and implement other emergency measures, according to Aggie Leitheiser of the state Health Department.
Elfering said deadly bird flu is more likely to spread in Asian countries such as Vietnam because they sometimes eat raw duck blood soup and have other close contact with poultry.
"People have to work pretty hard to get sick," added Pappaioanou.
Elfering said if poultry producers suspect bird flu in their flocks, they should call the Agriculture Department or Board of Animal Health immediately because it takes little time for the virus to spread.
Minnesotans are paying little attention to bird flu, but that could change quickly, Elfering said. "it is going to take that first bird falling over in Willmar."
On the Net: ? More information on the loan program is available at www.mda.state.mn.us/esap/poultryloan.htm or (651) 201-6012.
? Birds may be registered at www.bah.state.mn.us or (651) 296-2942.
http://www.grandforks.com/mld/grandforks/business/15194318.htm
State offers low-interest loan program for prevention
By Don Davis
Forum Communications
<!-- begin body-content --> REDWOOD FALLS, Minn. - Commercial poultry producers are well defended against the bird flu, agriculture leaders say, but Minnesotans who own flocks of just a few birds also need to take precautions.
It doesn't cost much money to protect poultry from migratory birds that may carry the virus, and the state just started offering a low-interest loan program for flock owners.
"There are some very simple ways to increase biosecurity," the Agriculture Department's Kevin Elfering said.
For example, he said, birds can be penned in crates that can be moved to new ground periodically. And feed can be placed where migratory birds such as ducks cannot get to it.
Elfering was a panelist Thursday at FarmFest in southwestern Minnesota, where he joined others in telling farmers about dangers of the bird flu, officially known as avian influenza.
Panel members concentrated on the more dangerous strain of bird flu, that many fear soon will mutate so it can pass from human to human. The often-deadly flu now is commonly passed from bird to human in Asia, where people and birds may share a house.
Dr. Marguerite Pappaioanou of the University of Minnesota veterinary school said there may have been cases in Thailand and Indonesia where the flu has passed from human to human, but only in families with close contact with each other and with birds.
Some experts say they fear ducks and other birds flying from Asia could infect Minnesota birds. However, Elfering said he feels a more likely way local birds would get the illness is through feed made from chicken meat.
Elfering, the Agriculture Department's dairy and food inspection director, said a 2-year-old case shows the danger. Feed shipped from China was labeled as shrimp, but it proved to be chicken. Had Minnesota chickens eaten infected chicken-based feed, they could have come down with bird flu.
Commercial poultry producers usually raise birds in confined facilities that prevent contact with migratory birds. Small flocks, however, often are raised in the open and birds flying over the state could land near and mingle with the domestic birds.
The Agriculture Department this week announced it will offer low-interest loans so small-flock owners can increase biosecurity.
"The bad news is, all poultry are at risk from avian influenza, regardless of how they are raised or how many birds are in the flock," Agriculture Commissioner Gene Hugoson said. "The good news is bird owners have the power to protect their birds and their neighbors' birds."
Elfering said all poultry owners should register their birds with the state so they can be notified if the deadly version of bird flu ever strikes.
Pappaioanou said there are 16 strains of bird flu that are not deadly, and there are cases around the United States. A strain known as H5N1 is what has experts concerned.
The flu could become a pandemic if it mutates to a form that can be transmitted between people, affecting up to 40 percent of Americans with an illness lasting 12 weeks.
If that happens, the governor will close schools and implement other emergency measures, according to Aggie Leitheiser of the state Health Department.
Elfering said deadly bird flu is more likely to spread in Asian countries such as Vietnam because they sometimes eat raw duck blood soup and have other close contact with poultry.
"People have to work pretty hard to get sick," added Pappaioanou.
Elfering said if poultry producers suspect bird flu in their flocks, they should call the Agriculture Department or Board of Animal Health immediately because it takes little time for the virus to spread.
Minnesotans are paying little attention to bird flu, but that could change quickly, Elfering said. "it is going to take that first bird falling over in Willmar."
On the Net: ? More information on the loan program is available at www.mda.state.mn.us/esap/poultryloan.htm or (651) 201-6012.
? Birds may be registered at www.bah.state.mn.us or (651) 296-2942.
http://www.grandforks.com/mld/grandforks/business/15194318.htm