OSU Extension - Portage County issued the following announcement on January 19.
-Highly Pathogenic Eurasian H5 avian influenza was recently found in wild birds in South & North Carolina.
-The species it was discovered in are migratory waterfowl.
-Because migratory waterfowl in South and North Carolina or birds they encounter migrate through Ohio, precautions should be taken to prevent the potential exposure of both the commercial poultry industry and backyard poultry community birds to high path avian influenza.
-Biosecurity for backyard poultry includes preventing wild birds from mingling with the flock. Preventative measures include ensuring your domestic birds cannot access areas migrating birds may visit, such as ponds, puddles, other open water sources, pastures, fields, etc. Prevent interaction with other wild birds in your flock using fencing or bird netting. The aim is to keep your domestic birds from encountering migratory waterfowl.
-The Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (ADDL) will test for high path avian influenza in birds suspected of being infected. They would like necropsy specimens submitted via a vet.
-If you do have sick birds, click below for a list of vets who see poultry in Ohio.
-Source new birds from reputable sources such as an NPIP approved hatchery.
Original source can be found here.
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