Just a reminder for all poultry producers to review and enforce biosecurity protocols to protect your flocks and our state's poultry industry. This type of HPAI virus is considered a low risk to people according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, but is highly contagious to other birds, including commercial and backyard flocks of poultry. The virus is also not considered a food safety threat and infected birds do not enter the food supply. Please see the news release from NCDA&CS HERE!
For more information about HPAI, please see the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Resource Page.
Other practices to consider at this time:
- Limit visitors to flocks
- If your chicken coop/run has an open or screened top, cover with metal or plastic to prevent wild bird droppings from falling into bird area
- Remove wild bird feeders or distance them from any backyard flocks as much as possible
- Provide "enrichment" if your birds are more confined than usual to help prevent birds from pecking one another
