Menan property underneath quarantine after hen flu wipes out majority of man’s flock

MENAN — A pressure of hen flu worn out most of a neighborhood man’s flock, and now the state is quarantining his property.

Andrew Woods, 36, of Menan, tells EastIdahoInformation.com his flock of 63 birds was decreased to 10 over the course of three or 4 days. The flock included a wide range of birds, comparable to geese, geese, chickens, peahens, peacocks and turkeys.

Last week, Woods noticed a number of regarding signs, which prompted him to name the Idaho State Department of Agriculture.

“One was a number of sudden deaths throughout totally different species. Sometimes chickens get sick, and so they die … however when I’ve a number of lifeless chickens and turkeys all in the identical day, that raised some alarm,” Woods says. “Other birds (in my flock) had been torpid after which handed an hour later.”

A veterinarian with the ISDA euthanized the remaining birds at Woods’ property Monday to forestall the virus from spreading.

Woods is happy with how the state dealt with it and says they had been compassionate in the direction of them and the animals they put down.

Woods is now barred from having any home poultry on his property for the subsequent 120 days.

“We have to keep up quarantine on the property from any domesticated poultry to verify nature does its job and lets the virus die naturally,” he says.

This is the fourth case of hen flu in japanese Idaho this yr, based on state veterinarian Scott Leibsle, and the fifteenth case throughout the state. It’s a continuation of final yr’s outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, the origin of which is unknown.

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The virus spreads primarily by hen droppings and mucus, Leibsle says, which poses a menace to birds grazing in the identical space.

In a narrative final yr, Christie Hammons, deputy vet for the ISDA, defined sudden loss of life is without doubt one of the most recognizable signs farmers can look ahead to. In bigger flocks the place producers are actually attentive to the quantity of feed and water that’s consumed, Hammons stated farmers are seeing decreased urge for food, lethargy, modifications in respiratory and issue in strolling and wattles.

Wild waterfowl like geese and geese are most in danger to publicity. Just like COVID-19 or another virus, Hammons stated isolation is the important thing to stopping the virus from spreading.

Earlier this yr, the Idaho Statesman reported three Idaho dairies had been underneath quarantine after being contaminated with hen flu, sparking issues in regards to the virus spreading to cattle.

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While hen flu has been circulating amongst cattle within the U.S., Leibsle says it’s a very totally different pressure of hen flu that’s not related with the unfold amongst hen populations. The pressure amongst cattle started after it cropped up at a Texas farm in March.

Since then, just one Idaho dairy stays underneath quarantine, Leibsle says, and there’s no trigger for concern about shopping for milk on the grocery retailer.

While there are circumstances of individuals contracting the illness from animals, Leibsle says there aren’t any human circumstances in Idaho. In states the place individuals are contaminated, solely a small portion of the inhabitants is affected and the circumstances are extraordinarily delicate.

Health officers say it’s at all times helpful to apply good hygiene after being round birds or different animals. Wash your palms and keep away from dealing with different folks’s flocks or sharing instruments. Have garments and a pair of sneakers devoted to working across the birds. Changing them once you’re performed can be necessary.

Those with particular issues can attain out and the division will work with them to find out particular methods to guard their flock. The state veterinarian’s workplace might be reached at (208) 332-8540.