MENAN, Idaho — A strain of bird flu wiped out most of a local man’s flock, and now the state is quarantining his property.
Last week, Woods saw several concerning symptoms, which prompted him to call the Idaho State Department of Agriculture.
A veterinarian with the Idaho State Department of Agriculture killed the remaining birds at Woods’ property Monday to prevent the virus from spreading.
Earlier this year, the Idaho Statesman reported three Idaho dairies were under quarantine after being infected with bird flu, sparking concerns about the virus spreading to cattle.
While bird flu has been circulating among cattle in the U.S., Leibsle says it’s a completely different strain of bird flu that’s not connected with the spread among bird populations.
MENAN, Idaho — A local man’s property is currently under quarantine after a strain of bird flu killed the majority of his flock.
Over the course of three or four days, Andrew Woods of Menan reports to EastIdahoNews.com that his flock of sixty-three birds was whittled down to ten. There were many different kinds of birds in the flock, including turkeys, ducks, geese, chickens, peahens, and peacocks.
After noticing a number of alarming symptoms last week, Woods called the Idaho State Department of Agriculture.
The first was the sudden death of several species. Sometimes chickens get sick and die, but when I had several dead turkeys and chickens in one day, that caused some concern,” Woods says. The other birds in my flock were sluggish at first, but an hour later they passed. “.
The remaining birds at Woods’ property were killed Monday by an Idaho State Department of Agriculture veterinarian in an effort to stop the virus from spreading.
The way the state handled it pleased Woods, who says it was kind to them and the animals.
For the next 120 days, Woods is not permitted to have any domestic poultry on his property.
“We must keep all domesticated poultry off the property in quarantine to ensure that nature does its job and the virus dies naturally,” he says.
State veterinarian Scott Leibsle reports that this is the 15th case of bird flu in the state and the fourth in eastern Idaho this year. The outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza, whose source is unknown, is continuing from the previous year.
According to Leibsle, the virus mainly spreads through bird droppings and mucus, endangering birds that graze nearby.
One of the most obvious signs that farmers can look out for is sudden death, according to Christie Hammons, deputy veterinarian for the Idaho State Department of Agriculture, who was quoted in an article last year. According to Hammons, farmers are observing wattles, altered breathing patterns, lethargy, decreased appetite, and difficulty walking in larger flocks where producers are paying close attention to the amount of feed and water consumed.
Ducks and geese, which are wild waterfowl, are particularly vulnerable to exposure. According to Hammons, the secret to stopping the virus from spreading is isolation, just like with COVID-19 or any other virus.
Concerns about the virus spreading to cattle were raised earlier this year when the Idaho Statesman reported that three dairies in Idaho were placed under quarantine due to bird flu.
In the United States, cattle have been afflicted with bird flu. A. It’s a totally distinct strain of bird flu, according to Leibsle, and has nothing to do with the spread among bird populations. After it appeared at a Texas farm in March, the strain on cattle started.
Leibsle says there is no reason to be concerned about purchasing milk from the grocery store, and that since then, only one dairy in Idaho has been placed under quarantine.
Although there have been instances of humans catching the illness from animals, Leibsle claims that no human cases have been reported in Idaho. Infected states only have a small percentage of the population afflicted, and the cases are very mild.
It’s always good to wash your hands after handling birds or other animals, according to health officials. Wash your hands, and refrain from sharing tools or handling other people’s flocks. Bring clothing and footwear specifically designed for working with birds. Another crucial step is to change them after you’re finished.
