Utah state inspectors found the avian flu in a small flock of backyard birds in Utah County — the first such outbreak in the state.
The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food announced Monday that the Utah Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory confirmed a diagnosis of highly pathogenic avian influenza — HPAI — found Friday among a backyard flock in Utah County. The diagnosis was then confirmed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Inspection Service’s national veterinary laboratories.
The federal agency said seven birds were infected in the Utah County outbreak. Utah officials said the birds were slaughtered, and the area quarantined to prevent further spread of HPAI. UDAF is working with the USDA’s inspection service to deploy surveillance and testing in the area.
“Proper steps have been taken to prevent further spread of the disease,” said Dr. Dean Taylor, the state veterinarian.
State officials are urging those keeping birds in Utah County — whether large commercial poultry operations or backyard flocks — to visit the USDA’s website to review poultry biosecurity guidelines, to ensure their birds remain healthy.
Keepers of small flocks, in particular, should watch their birds for potential symptoms of HPAI, including nasal discharge, decreased water consumption, lowered appetite, lack of coordination or high death loss in a flock. Keepers who notice such symptoms in their birds are asked to alert the state veterinarian’s office at statevet@utah.gov immediately. Birds in the immediate area of the outbreak should be monitored especially closely.
“We want people to be vigilant about their outdoor flocks,” said Bailie Woostenhulme, spokesperson for UDAF. “They are the most vulnerable, because typically [the flu is] carried by wild birds, and if they share food sources or water sources, it can spread from bird to bird and get out of control.”
Avian influenza most commonly infects chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, ducks, geese and guinea fowl, and is often spread by wild ducks, geese and shorebirds.
HPAI can sicken more than just backyard hens, commercial poultry flocks and wild poultry: Salt Lake City’s Tracy Aviary has been on alert for avian flu since early April, and this weekend placed netting over open areas to keep wild birds out of enclosures. The aviary has also closed some exhibits to the public, including the Wetlands Experience flight cage and the Treasures of the Rainforest indoor exhibit.
No human cases of this strain of HPAI have been confirmed in the United States so far, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that this current outbreak does not present an immediate health risk to the public.
Woolstenhulme said out-of-control, larger outbreaks can impact the food supply, because it can sicken huge numbers of commercial meat-producing and egg-laying hens. As the Washington Post reported over the weekend, avian flu has hit 1.3% of all chickens in the nation, and 6% of commercial turkeys. As a result, the average cost of a dozen eggs has tripled since November, going from about $1 a dozen to $2.95.
Utah is now the 28th state to report an outbreak of HPAI since early February, according to USDA statistics. Three of Utah’s neighboring states — Colorado, Idaho and Wyoming — have previously reported outbreaks.
HPAI is typically not passed through consumption, Woolstenhulme said, especially if poultry and eggs are cooked to the recommended internal temperature of 165˚ F. Bird flu infection occurs during contact with sick birds, so as a precaution, people should keep a careful eye on backyard flocks and avoid touching or interacting with wild birds.
Updates on the outbreak can be found on the USDA’s inspection service’s website.
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