Commercial, backyard poultry keepers urged to review biosecurity in light of potent avian flu strain
Feb. 15, 2022
By Mary Hightower
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Fast facts
- Potent avian influenza reported east of Mississippi River
- Commercial, backyard flock keepers need to review biosecurity measures
(413 words)
(Newsrooms: With image of rooster https://flic.kr/p/2n3N9dM )
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas poultry growers, both commercial and backyard hobby flocks, are being asked to review appropriate biosecurity protocols in light of an avian influenza strain being found in birds east of the Mississippi.
“Routine surveillance conducted by APHIS Wildlife Services has detected the highly pathogenic avian influenza Eurasian H5N1 in wild birds in New Hampshire, Delaware, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Florida, and Maryland,” said Dustan Clark, extension poultry veterinarian for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
APHIS, or Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Clark said the flu strain was detected in commercial and hobby flocks in these states:
- Indiana turkey flock
- Virginia backyard flock, mixed species
- Kentucky, Fulton County, commercial broilers.
The Fulton County, Kentucky, flock is of concern because of its relative closeness to Arkansas.
“This is serious stuff,” said Vic Ford, head of agriculture and natural resources for the Cooperative Extension Service. “Fulton County, Kentucky, is too close for comfort. We are looking at this as an opportunity for all our poultry growers to strengthen security around their flocks.”
“It is extremely important that anyone involved with poultry production should review their premise biosecurity procedures and protocols,” Clark said. This should be done by small backyard hobby flock owners and growers of commercial poultry to protect the health of their birds. Commercial poultry growers should follow company biosecurity guidelines and work closely with their flock supervisors.”
Signs of illness
Clark said most poultry growers look at their birds more than once daily and should be able to spot changes in behavior. Some of the first signs of illness include:
- A drop or stopping of egg production
- Lack of appetite
- Sneezing, gasping
- Diarrhea
- Drop in water consumption
- Discharges from the eye and/or nostril
- Ruffled feathers, huddling
- A bird keeping to itself.
Preventative measures
Owners of small poultry flocks should follow these basic measures to help prevent flock infection, including:
- Examining new birds closely
- Examine birds returning from poultry shows
- Clean and disinfect poultry facilities.
- Practice good vermin control to prevent rodents from transmitting diseases.
- Restrict visitors from your flock.
- Report anything unusual or “just not right” in your flock to your veterinarian, county
extension agent, extension poultry veterinarian, state veterinarian or USDA hotline.
- Dustan Clark, DVM, Arkansas Extension Poultry Veterinarian: fdclark@uark.edu, 479-957-4245
- Terry Conger, DVM, Poultry Health /Epidemiologist: H.Conger@aphis.usda.gov, 501- 224-9515
- John G. Nilz, DVM, Arkansas State Veterinarian. john.nilz@agriculture.arkansas.gov 501- 297-2250
For more information see our biosecurity resources page.
To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk.
To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uark.edu. Follow on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch. To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @AR_Extension.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs to all eligible persons without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
# # #
Media contact: Media contact: Mary Hightower
mhightower@uada.edu