Rhode Island Poultry Farmers Protect Herds from Bird Flu

On Friday, a laboratory test of a commercial duck herd in Elkhart County, Indiana, returned as probably positive for the virus, the Indiana Health Commission told AP.

The loss of spawning chickens and rising costs have led to higher prices for egg cartons at local grocery stores.

Owner of Paul Buffoni Buffoni poultry farm In Johnston, Rhode Island, he said he had taken steps to ensure that his herd was protected from a virus that could not infect humans.The Bird flu occurs naturally According to the May York Clinic, it inhabits wild waterfowl and can spread to poultry such as chickens, turkeys, ducks and geese through contact with infected bird droppings, nose, mouth and eye secretions. ..

Avian influenza strains have been reported in bald eagles, geese, ducks, owls, hawks, swans, vultures, and various other birds.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that bird flu poses little risk to the general public and poultry can be safely eaten as long as they are cooked properly.

The USFDA does not allow the sale of birds infected with bird flu.

At Buffoni’s, who has been in his family since 1935, no waterfowl has a hut on an 80-acre farm that raises about 30,000 to 45,000 chickens and 1,200 turkeys. They are all kept indoors away from wild birds.

“We perform standard hygiene with disinfectants,” Buffoni said. “Workers soak a bucket that steps into a pot of disinfectant from one coup to another. We cleaned the building and used the recommended disinfectant before placing the chicks. Everything is common sense. “

Bird flu has always been a major concern, but Buffoni says his herd has never been infected with the virus. Buffoni says that current strain mortality is almost 100% and most infected birds are humanely eradicated.

Poultry farmers are waiting worried about the warm weather, which tends to slow down the virus, says Buffoni.

The state veterinarian Scott Marshall said the Rhode Island Environmental Administration had contacted poultry producers and provided advice on protecting their herds. The farm does not allow non-regular workers to come into contact with poultry.

Birds infected with bird flu show wattles on the face, combs on the top of the head, and bluish shins on the feet. They may swell, cough, and make abnormal breath sounds called snicks. Birds can also have diarrhea and paralysis.

So far, diseased birds tested by the state have returned negative for bird flu.

There are countless backyard poultry farmers on Rhode Island, and Marshall says RIDEM is not in contact with them. But the moment someone calls the vet with a sick or dying bird, USDA’s flora and fauna testing service will respond.

Marshall says RIDEM relies on press releases and a blast of social media to notify non-profit poultry farmers.

“When our country is infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza, foreign countries may impose sanctions on us if we do not implement high enough protection,” says Marshall. .. “Therefore, the response in these cases when bird flu is detected is to rapidly reduce the farm’s population and humanely kill the farm’s poultry.”

Farmers can reduce their risk by putting birds inside and wild waterfowl out. However, the infection can be caused by bird droppings.

“It’s unique to wild waterfowl,” says Marshall. “When waterfowl are moving to the area, they are spreading it. These birds are flying and defecation, so they are like these virus bombs falling from the sky. You can rest assured that you are in your area. I am confident that Rhode Island has it in the environment. “

Buffoni says he is notified by the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service whenever an infected spot is reported anywhere in the country. He says the latest report came from Texas.

“There is no Bologna,” he said. “Whether it’s 6 chickens or 6 million chickens, they are quarantined and tested. The Government — USDA Food Safety Inspection Service — is in our processing facility every day … I feel comfortable because we do everything we can and work fully with state and federal levels. “

To date, 157 farms have been affected across the United States, with 114 commercial herds and 43 backyard herds affected. Affected birds extend south from Wyoming to Maine to Texas.

“If people want to be safe, don’t allow contact with wild birds, scrape boots with a disinfectant before entering the chicken coop, share equipment, allow traffic and other birds, etc. Don’t buy chickens from your farm, and now you can completely prevent it, “says Marshall. “It’s up to people to stop it from heading to their chicken coop.”

This report used the Associated Press material.

Carlos Munoz can be reached at [email protected].. Follow him on Twitter @ReadCarlos And on Instagram @Carlosbrknews..