Baton
Rouge, La. - Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike
Strain, D.V.M., said, "In an effort to safeguard our commercial producers
and backyard poultry enthusiasts, we've increased our surveillance of poultry
in the state. We are also enforcing all Louisiana Board of Animal Health entry
regulations."
Louisiana
is taking precautionary measures following the recent confirmed presence of
the highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza (AI) in commercial turkey flocks in
these six states: Idaho, Minnesota, Missouri, Oregon, Washington and most
recently Arkansas.
All
poultry entering Louisiana from a state affected with AI must meet the
following entry requirements:
No live
poultry or poultry products may enter Louisiana from an area designated as a
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) infected zone until the official
quarantine has been released; Poultry includes chickens, turkeys, quail,
pheasants, peafowl, guineas, chukars and other partridge, grouse, ratites and
domestic ducks; Poultry products include hatching eggs, chicks, poults, table
eggs, litter, and offal, but do not include processed poultry meat for human
consumption; All poultry entering Louisiana must originate from a National
Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) AI clean flock or must be tested negative for
AI within 7 days of entry (by antibody or antigen capture methodologies
recognized by NPIP); All poultry shipments into Louisiana must be accompanied
by an Interstate Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (ICVI) and proof of
NPIP certification for Salmonella Pullorum/Typhoid (P/T) clean status with NPIP
Form 9-2 or NPIP negative testing within 30 days of entry; ICVI must state
origin of shipment.
Late
Wednesday, the Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commission confirmed the
infection of H5N2 AI in a commercial turkey flock in northern Arkansas.
The flock is currently quarantined. The Arkansas Livestock & Poultry
Commission will follow strict U.S. Department of Agriculture protocols to
depopulate the affected flock so that no affected birds will enter the food
supply. Additionally, surveillance and testing procedures will be
implemented at properties near the affected facility to insure that the virus
has not spread. The virus is not known to cause disease in
humans.
These virus strains can travel in wild birds
without them appearing sick. People should avoid contact with sick/dead
poultry or wildlife. If contact occurs, wash your hands with soap and water and
change clothing before having any contact with healthy domestic poultry and
birds.
All bird
owners, whether commercial producers or backyard poultry enthusiasts, should
continue to practice good biosecurity, prevent contact between their birds and
wild birds, and to report sick birds or unusual bird deaths to state/federal
officials, either through your state veterinarian or through USDA’s toll-free
number at 1-866-536-7593.
Additional information on biosecurity for backyard flocks can be found at healthybirds.aphis.usda.gov
Website: http://www.ldaf.state.la.us/news/louisiana-takes-precautionary-measures-against-avian-influenza/
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