Bird flu returns, flock owners urged to enhance safety measures

Even with the spring and summer-long respite, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is once again on the move as wild birds migrate south to warmer climates. This poses a threat to domestic flocks, making the adoption of enhanced measures of biosecurity crucial in minimizing detections. Biosecurity is the essential practice that attempts to control the introduction and spread of disease.

Since February 2022, HPAI H5N1 has been circulating throughout the United States, with a new domestic backyard detection in King County reported this week by Washington State Department of Agriculture veterinarians.

To protect poultry flocks from accidental exposure to HPAI, biosecurity remains critical. Dr. Amber Itle, the Washington State Veterinarian, urges bird owners to continue taking extra biosecurity measures. She emphasizes that the biggest risk factor to date is direct contact with wild waterfowl, which increases the environmental viral load and the risk of transmission to domestic flocks.

There have also been reports of mammals contracting the virus, most recently in seals. All around the state and surrounding areas, cases of HPAI have been found in wild birds and in domestic flocks in Canada. This means the virus is in the environment. Biosecurity is a critical to protect our flocks.

Enhanced biosecurity not only safeguards flocks but also preserves farms from diseases like HPAI.

“By implementing robust biosecurity protocols, we can mitigate the spread of HPAI and ensure the health and well-being of our poultry industry,” Dr. Itle added.

Additional biosecurity measures include:

• Separate domestic birds from wild birds
• Separate domestic poultry from domestic waterfowl
• Discourage wild birds from coming near your flocks
• Only feed domestic birds indoors and remove feed at night (when wild birds often feed)
• Lock up your flock’s feed in containers with lids
• Remove bird feeders that might attract wild waterfowl
• Fence off the ponds
• Cover the chicken yard with netting

Veterinarians urge bird owners to stay vigilant and take the necessary steps to protect your flocks and ultimately the food supply. If detections spread to commercial flocks, the supply of food in our state could be impacted, along with the price for these products.

WSDA reminds flock owners of the domestic sick bird online reporting tool. The online tool complements the existing WSDA sick bird reporting hotline as well as the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s online reporting tool for wild birds. Owners are urged to report sick birds to the state veterinarian’s office and help keep bird flu at bay.

Visit agr.wa.gov/birdflu to stay current on bird flu detections and get biosecurity tips.