County fair won't have poultry exhibits

DAVENPORT- A bird flu outbreak has drawn concerns and the Lincoln County Fair will not have poultry exhibits this year.

Don Llewellyn, director of the Lincoln County WSU Extension, said the state and communities are taking precautions to stop the spread.

“There was one case in Spokane and none in Lincoln County…yet,” Llewellyn said. “We are taking precautions as this is a highly contagious disease.”

“Washington State did not put out a rule that the fairs could not have poultry,” he said. “But it was highly recommended by Amber Itle.”

Amber Itle was named the new state veterinarian in March.

Llewellyn said that the precautions required to have the exhibits were vast.

According to the Department of Agriculture, 2014-2015 saw the largest livestock and poultry disaster in U.S. history.

During the outbreak during Dec. 2014 to June 2015, 50 million chicks and turkeys died or were destroyed to stop the disease from spreading.

There were 50 countries that banned imports of U.S. poultry items, which resulted in $1.3 billion in loss of revenue.

Restricted egg supply caused the prices to be the highest the country had seen in 30 years.

Government expenses climbed to $879 million in response to the outbreak.

Precautions and observations are underway in Washington state and throughout the United States for the current outbreak.

There has been egg collection statewide, testing dead poultry and response to sick bird calls.

The Department of Agriculture asks that precautions be taken when looking after a flock.

Keeping a closed flock can prevent new pathogen introduction.

Quarantine and monitor new/ returning birds for 30 days.

Separating birds by age is important, as older birds are at higher risk for the disease than younger birds..

WSDA recommends that birds do not come in contact with humans that are sick.

Ensuring proper nutrition is important.

The nutrition of the flock needs to be of a higher quality and they need to have access to clean water.

Monitoring the weight and body of the birds periodically can help determine the health of the flock.

Do not feed on the ground as it can be contaminated.

Vaccinate birds against diseases of concern and minimize bird stress.

Environmental factors can result in the spread of Avian.

Providing excellent air quality via effective ventilation ensures the flock can breathe without air pollution.

Protecting the birds and their environment from flooding and wetness can reduce the chances of them getting sick.

Emphasizing sanitary conditions decreases exposure to pathogens.

Maintaining proper temperatures is imperative to bird comfort.

Preventing overcrowding is important to ensure each bird has space to move.

Controlling exposure to wildlife's habitat can prevent cross contamination.