More than 100,000 birds — practically all of them chickens — have been killed at a Cullman County business broiler farm and a yard flock in Pickens County after extremely pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) was confirmed on the two websites, the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries mentioned Monday.
Samples from the flocks had been examined and confirmed constructive on the Alabama State Diagnostic Laboratory in Auburn.
Both websites have been quarantined, the Agriculture Department mentioned, and all birds at these areas — about 116,000 broiler chickens in Cullman and 70 guineafowl, geese, turkeys and chickens in Pickens — had been killed to forestall unfold of the illness.
All poultry inside a 6.2-mile radius of the broiler farm are being examined and monitored for HPAI.
“It is important for business and yard poultry operations to stay alert and carefully monitor the well being of their poultry,” mentioned Agriculture Commissioner Rick Pate and State Veterinarian Dr. Tony Frazier in a joint assertion.
“The detection of HPAI in Cullman and Pickens Counties reinforces the necessity to proceed following strict biosecurity measures, together with maintaining birds enclosed with out entry to wild birds or different home flocks.”
Bird flu is taken into account a low threat to human well being, in response to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
But the illness is extremely contagious to birds, together with business and yard poultry flocks.
Symptoms of HPAI embody:
- Sudden improve in fowl deaths in your flock
- Sneezing, gasping for air, coughing and nasal discharge
- Watery and inexperienced diarrhea
- Lack of vitality and poor urge for food
- Drop in egg manufacturing or delicate or thin-shelled, misshaped eggs
- Swelling of the pinnacle, eyelids, comb, wattles and hocks
- Purple discoloration of the wattles, comb and legs
- Ruffled feathers, listlessness and lethargy
The Agriculture Department urged the business poultry trade and yard flock homeowners within the state to extend biosecurity measures to guard their operations from HPAI.
Those measures embody:
- Cleaning autos and tools
- Limiting pointless guests
- Sanitizing sneakers in clear foot baths
- Changing garments upon contact with birds and extra.
People ought to keep away from contact with sick or lifeless poultry or wildlife.
If contact happens, wash your arms and alter clothes earlier than having any contact with poultry and wild birds.
More info on biosecurity measures could be discovered right here: http://healthybirds.aphis.usda.gov.
Sick or lifeless wild birds ought to be reported to the Alabama Department of Natural Resources and Conservation at 334-242-3469.
Sick or lifeless home birds ought to be reported to the Agriculture Department’s Poultry Unit at 334-240-6584.
