SEPTEMBER 8, 2022:
The North Dakota State Board of Animal Health met yesterday and amended the statewide suspension of poultry/bird events. Effective immediately, following the detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), comingling events such as poultry and bird shows, sales and swaps are prohibited in the affected county and adjoining counties.
Currently, the restricted counties are Cass and the adjoining counties of Traill, Steele, Barnes, Ransom and Richland due to the case detected last month in Cass. If no new cases emerge in 30 days after the detection, the suspension will be automatically lifted for that area.
Those in non-restricted counties may again hold poultry and bird events but producers in restricted counties cannot take birds to or from poultry events.
“As HPAI cases continue to be a concern, the board has made the decision to take a regional approach for addressing comingling poultry and bird events,” State Board of Animal Health President Dr. Gerald Kitto said.
“I applaud the board and industry working together to balance the needs of commerce while protecting poultry producers from this devastating disease,” Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring said.
Avian influenza infects many species of wild birds and can be transmitted by direct contact with infected birds or contaminated food or water. Sick and dead wild birds should be reported to North Dakota Game and Fish at https://gf.nd.gov/wildlife/diseases/mortality-report.
More information about avian influenza is available at www.nd.gov/ndda/disease/avian-influenza and from the USDA-APHIS at www.aphis.usda.gov. Subsequent detections of HPAI in North Dakota will be posted on www.nd.gov/ndda/hpai.
AUGUST 31, 2022:
The North Dakota State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory has confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a non-commercial, backyard flock in Cass County. The detection triggers the suspension of poultry/bird events across the state. If no new cases emerge in 30 days, the suspension will be automatically lifted.
The State Board of Animal Health and the North Dakota Department of Agriculture are working closely with USDA-APHIS and local officials in the response. The premises has been quarantined and the flock is being depopulated to prevent the spread of the disease. Birds from the flock will not enter the food system. Owners of domestic birds in a 10 km zone around the affected farm are being instructed to prevent contact between domestic poultry and wild birds and to monitor their flocks closely for illness to prevent the spread of HPAI.
“While we hoped there would not be additional cases this fall, due to the extensive involvement wild birds played in the spread of disease this year, we knew it was possible,” State Veterinarian Dr. Ethan Andress said. “The suspension of poultry/bird events is a precaution to reduce the risk of further spread of avian influenza to North Dakota birds.”
There is no immediate public health concern due to this finding. The risk to people from HPAI is low despite the disease often being fatal for birds.
“As farmers take to the fields this fall, they should avoid contact with sick or deceased wild birds and change out of field clothes or boots when caring for their own poultry,” Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring said.
Avian influenza infects many species of wild birds and can be transmitted by direct contact with infected birds or contaminated food or water. Sick and dead wild birds should be reported to North Dakota Game and Fish at https://gf.nd.gov/wildlife/diseases/mortality-report.
More information about avian influenza is available at www.nd.gov/ndda/disease/avian-influenza and from the USDA-APHIS at www.aphis.usda.gov. Subsequent detections of HPAI in North Dakota will be posted on www.nd.gov/ndda/hpai.
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