08/01/06 Screening for bird flu at fairs

Washington Ag August 1, 2006 Washington state animal health personnel will be touring poultry barns at fairs in August and September to test chickens and other birds for avian influenza. The Washington State Department of Agriculture is expanding its surveillance effort to protect the health of the state`s commercial and backyard flocks, as well as reassure fair visitors. Dr. Leonard Eldridge, Washington state veterinarian, says "Because birds from so many different flocks come together at fairs, the events are great disease surveillance opportunities." Eldridge says that while the probability of finding the H5N1 virus at a fair is extremely low, officials will also make this an opportunity to share information with bird owners about how to keep their flocks free of a variety of animal diseases. Veterinarians and public health experts in Washington remain on the lookout for the Asian H5N1 bird flu virus, even though that virus has never been found in North America. Larger commercial poultry and egg operations in the state, which isolate their flocks and maintain tight security, continue to conduct bird flu testing before food products go to market. If highly pathogenic bird flu is discovered in poultry in Washington, WSDA has developed a containment plan to protect public health, prevent the spread of the disease and limit the economic damage to the poultry industry. I'm Bob Hoff.