SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Department of Agriculture and Food spokeswoman Caroline Hargraves says a “large commercial poultry flock” in northern Cache County has been confirmed to be infected with avian influenza, the first case of avian influenza of the year. An outbreak occurred.
The disease, technically termed highly pathogenic avian influenza, prompted an investigation by the state veterinary office, according to a press release issued Saturday. According to the Department of Agriculture’s website, avian influenza is “highly contagious and deadly to poultry.”
State Veterinarian Dr. Daniel Christensen said a team from the department was “immediately dispatched to assess the situation” after receiving “notification of an outbreak of symptomatic birds in Cache County.”
Hargraves told KSL.com that the entire flock of infected commercial chickens, numbering 1.8 million birds, was culled and the area around the flock was quarantined. The specific farm has not been disclosed.
The problem has garnered support from federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Inspection Service, which is working to increase surveillance and testing in the region.
Officials are asking poultry owners, including chicken and turkey owners, to check for symptoms of avian influenza, including “high flock mortality, runny nose, decreased appetite and water intake, and lack of coordination.” They are warning people to be careful with birds, a press release said. He urged people to contact the state veterinarian’s office if they notice any symptoms.
The CDC says recent detections of the disease are not an “imminent public health concern,” but encourages consumers to cook chicken and eggs to an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
For backyard flocks and commercial flocks alike, keeping homes, sheds and other enclosures clean can help prevent the spread of avian influenza, according to the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food. More information can be found on the ministry’s website.
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