Avian influenza case confirmed in Arkansas; biosecurity webinars planned for Oct. 18, 20
Alabama, Arizona, Hawaii Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and West Virginia are the only states without a reported case of the highly pathogenic avian influenza in poultry, according to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the U.S. Agriculture Department.
By Mary Hightower
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Oct. 11, 2022
Fast facts
- Arkansas AI confirmation announced Oct. 6
- Register for webinars online
- Find resources to protect flocks
(250 words)
(Newsrooms: With art; of backyard chickens, flyer: https://flic.kr/p/2nSedAYr)
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Following confirmation of a case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Madison County, the Cooperative Extension Service has scheduled two webinars for backyard poultry flock owners with tips to keep their birds safe.
The two webinars are scheduled for Oct. 18 and Oct. 20. Both will begin at 6 p.m. Registration was available online.
Dustan Clark, extension veterinarian for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, warned last week that with the fall migration along the Mississippi Flyway, "the chances for infection could increase since wild waterfowl and shorebirds can act as reservoirs for the virus.
“Backyard flocks are at higher risk because they are more likely to spend time outdoors and can be exposed to the droppings from wild birds,” he said.
The Cooperative Extension Service also has online biosecurity resources for backyard and commercial flock owners.
With last week’s confirmed case in Madison County, the number of states without a confirmed case of avian influenza in poultry has dwindled to seven: Alabama, Arizona, Hawaii Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and West Virginia, according to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The Arkansas Department of Agriculture and partner agencies, including the USDA, were sampling and quarantining commercial and backyard poultry flocks in the area where the disease was found.
If flock owners note any symptoms in their birds, they should contact their county agent, state veterinarian or call the state Department of Agriculture at 501-823-1746 or the USDA hotline 1-866-536-7593.
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. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu. Follow on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk.
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 and services 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.
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Media contact: Mary Hightower, mhightower@uada.edu