LOGAN – The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) wanted to inform the public on Saturday of a Cache County commercial poultry flock that was diagnosed with a highly pathogenic avian flu (HPAF).
“Our State Veterinarian’s office was notified of symptomatic birds in Cache County and our team was immediately dispatched to assess the situation,” said Utah State Veterinarian Dr. Daniel Christensen. “Proper steps are being taken to prevent further spread of the disease.”
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Inspection Service (APHIS) was informed about the incident and a they are working closely with UDAF. The birds were located, and the area has been quarantined and the infected birds will be depopulated to prevent further spread of the disease.
UDAF and the federal agency are working together on additional surveillance and testing in areas around the affected flock. Poultry owners in Cache Valley should vigilantly watch their flocks for symptoms of HPAI. Symptoms include high death loss among flocks, nasal discharge, decreased appetite or water consumption, and lack of coordination in birds. If owners notice birds are experiencing any of these symptoms, contact the State Veterinarian’s office immediately at statevet@utah.gov.
HPAI detections do not present an immediate public health concern according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the recent HPAI detections do not present an immediate public health concern. Proper handling and cooking of all poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165 ̊F is recommended as general food safety precaution.
Poultry producers at any level from small backyard to large commercial producers should review their biosecurity activities to ensure the health of their birds. Information about biosecurity, including videos, checklists, and a toolkit are available at: https://ag.utah.gov/hpai/
APHIS works closely with commercial operators, States, and backyard and hobby growers to prevent avian influenza and other diseases from becoming established in the U.S. poultry population. Protecting the health and safety of our Nation’s poultry must be a top priority for flock owners of all sizes.
The U.S. poultry industry is one of the largest in the world and an important sector of our agricultural economy.
The USDA said that if U.S. poultry are exposed to highly contagious diseases like highly pathogenic avian influenza and virulent Newcastle disease, the impact on our economy could be severe and international trade can be impacted. These deadly diseases quickly kill large percentages of any flock they infect.
The federal agency urges poultry owners practice good biosecurity as one of the best ways to protect their flocks from the risk of infection and the spread of disease.