Amber Betts
WSDA Communications
It’s true, 30 days have passed since the latest detection of
highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a domestic flock in our state this
year. The first case in 2022 was announced in May, since then, we’ve had a
steady string of positive cases, until about 30 days ago.
That is incredible news, considering we’ve seen a steady
climb in HPAI detection rates across the country. Our State Veterinarian says a
big factor is the diligence and next-level biosecurity of our flock owners.
Take a moment and pat yourself on the back.
Dr. Amber Itle, Washington State Veterinarian, says that
another contributing factor to the decline in detections is that standing water
has dried up, eliminating reservoirs for wild birds to congregate.
However, the virus is still very prevalent in our
environment; as we continue to see positive cases in wild birds right here in
Washington.
The takeaway? You are doing great! Keep it up. Although this
is an important milestone, flock owners should be cautious about relaxing
biosecurity efforts. We are seeing surges across the Nation and even closer to
home; including Idaho, Oregon, and California as the fall migration continues.
We must remain vigilant. Above all, avoid contact between
your domestic flocks and wild waterfowl. If you do that, your flocks are less
likely to contract the disease.
Two important ways you can protect your flock from wild
waterfowl is to protect their water supply and make sure spilled feed is picked
up.
Wild birds are always looking for a free lunch. Our vets
recommend to clean up spilled or uneaten feed right away, and make sure feed
storage units are secure and free of holes.
Protect your flock’s water supply by keeping in clean, and
in an area that wild birds cannot access it.
For additional information on the state’s bird flu status,
visit agr.wa.gov/birdflu.