Mississippi County Faces Avian Flu Threat, Chicken Owners Urged to Takeโ Precautions
BLYTHEVILLE, AR โ- A highly contagious avian flu strain has been detected in Mississippi County, โฃprompting local officialsโฃ to advise chicken owners to bolster biosecurity measures to protect their flocks. A 60-bird flock was “depopulated” on October 10 after a positive test result,according to reports.
Avian flu โคcan be devastating to poultry, with โฃCornell University reporting mortality rates of 75%โฃ to 100% inโข infected chickens and turkeys. The riskโค of transmission is currently elevated due to ongoing migratoryโ patterns of waterfowl.
“We’re in โคthe Mississippi flyway, so I liken it to you’re more likely to haveโ a wreckโฃ if there’s a lot more cars on the highway,” explained Maleigha Cook, a county โฃextension agent with the Craighead County Extension Service. โ”So, โฃit’s the same concept.Right now, โflock management is extremely important.” cookโข also noted the approaching rainy season increases the potentialโฃ for contamination, stating, “It takes oneโค gram of fecal matter from an infected bird toโค upset about a million birds.”
Local chicken owners are already responding to the threat. Keith Beeson, who ownsโ 17โฃ chickens, isolatedโข birds that recently participated in a show after โnoticing one exhibiting coughing symptoms.”We’re just โขmonitoring it. Hopefully, it’ll โฃget on the mend, nothing too crazy. Just trying to be as careful as possible,” Beeson said.
The Craighead County Extension Service recommends several preventative โmeasures, includingโค designating footwear โขsolely for use in poultry areas and limiting access โคto โขflocks. Poultry specialists are available through the extension service to assist owners.
