{"id":2849,"date":"2023-03-14T17:25:08","date_gmt":"2023-03-14T22:25:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/healthsecurity\/transmission\/?p=2849"},"modified":"2023-03-14T17:25:11","modified_gmt":"2023-03-14T22:25:11","slug":"idaho-after-avian-influenza-outbreak-among-domestic-birds-is-there-any-end-in-sight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/healthsecurity\/transmission\/2023\/03\/14\/idaho-after-avian-influenza-outbreak-among-domestic-birds-is-there-any-end-in-sight\/","title":{"rendered":"Idaho: After avian influenza outbreak among domestic birds, is there any end in sight?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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(East Idaho News<\/a>) A strain of avian flu continues to have an impact on soaring egg prices nationwide, and the first confirmed case detected in domestic birds in Bingham County last week creates an added sense of urgency in eastern Idaho.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Christie Hammons, the deputy veterinarian for the Idaho State Department of Agriculture, tells EastIdahoNews.com there have been 30 cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Idaho since last spring when the outbreak began. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While there have been strains of avian influenza in the past, this strain has been particularly long-lasting. The reason for that is unclear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s hard to say (why this strain has been particularly bad),\u201d Hammons says. \u201cThere are a lot of different evolutionary components that viruses take up to be able to spread \u2026 and be a more successful organism.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The virus spreads primarily through bird droppings and mucus, says Hammons, which poses a threat to birds grazing in the same area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sudden death is one of the most recognizable symptoms farmers can watch for. In larger flocks where producers are really attentive to the amount of feed and water that\u2019s consumed, Hammons says farmers are seeing decreased appetite, lethargy, changes in breathing and difficulty in walking and wattles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wild waterfowl like ducks and geese are most at risk to exposure. Just like COVID-19 or any other virus, Hammons says isolation is the key to preventing the virus from spreading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPenning them up and keeping them in a more cooped area, having some overhead restriction so that there\u2019s no incoming organic matter from wild birds definitely helps,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She recommends bird owners practice good hygiene after being around them. Wash your hands and avoid handling other people\u2019s flocks or sharing tools. Have clothes and a pair of shoes dedicated to working around the birds and changing them when you\u2019re done is also important, Hammons says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hammons has been heavily involved in watching local bird populations and educating people about preventative measures over the last several months. There are a lot of unknown variables with the virus and she says raising awareness about it is one of the few things they can do to protect local flocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those with specific concerns can reach out and the department will work with them to determine specific ways to protect their flock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the department hasn\u2019t been testing eggs, Hammons explains there are multiple methods that can be used, as needed. One is a swab sample and the other is a PCR test, which analyzes genetic components to see if the virus is present.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWith food \u2014 eggs and meat products \u2014 it hasn\u2019t been much of a concern. As long as people are cooking (at) USDA-recommended temperatures, it hasn\u2019t been considered a food-born virus to people,\u201d Hammons explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, Hammons says they have no way of predicting how much longer the virus is going to last. They continue to research and look for answers, and they\u2019re holding out for some good news on that front. But for now, consumers will continue to see elevated egg and meat prices at the grocery store.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And just because there\u2019s a confirmed case in one part of the state doesn\u2019t mean those on the other side of the state can breathe easy. Hammons says the right mentality is to assume that every corner of the state is affected because it is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnywhere wild birds can go, there\u2019s a possibility that (the virus) is there,\u201d she says. \u201cWe\u2019ve noticed a lot of positive samples from wild birds throughout the winter from all over Idaho. So it\u2019s there \u2026 they\u2019re carrying it. It can get into the environment, and as it warms up, it\u2019s going to be more successful at exposing our domestic flocks.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(East Idaho News) A strain of avian flu continues to have an impact on soaring egg prices nationwide, and the first confirmed case detected in domestic birds in Bingham County last week creates an added sense of urgency in eastern Idaho. Christie Hammons, the deputy veterinarian for the Idaho State Department of Agriculture, tells EastIdahoNews.com […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"#HPAI #H5N1 in East Idaho #birdflu @EastIDNews","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[37,21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2849","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-avian-influenza","category-featured"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/healthsecurity\/transmission\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2849","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/healthsecurity\/transmission\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/healthsecurity\/transmission\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/healthsecurity\/transmission\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/healthsecurity\/transmission\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2849"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/healthsecurity\/transmission\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2849\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2850,"href":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/healthsecurity\/transmission\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2849\/revisions\/2850"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/healthsecurity\/transmission\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2849"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/healthsecurity\/transmission\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2849"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/healthsecurity\/transmission\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2849"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}