Poultry from a Washington County farm tested positive for the highly contagious avian flu, according to a news release from the Maryland Department of Agriculture.
The announcement was made Wednesday following lab testing from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory.
The premises have been quarantined and birds on the farm were euthanized and are being disposed per federal guidelines to prevent the spread of the disease, according to the Maryland Agriculture Department. No birds from the affected flocks will enter the food supply chain.
“Avian influenza does not affect poultry meat or egg products, which remain healthy and safe to eat and handle,” Maryland Agriculture Secretary Joe Bartenfelder said in the release. “All poultry growers, operators, and owners, including those who manage backyard flocks, must remain vigilant. MDA, USDA and other partner agencies are working diligently to address and localize the situation, including quarantining and testing nearby flocks.”
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Avian influenza is a highly contagious airborne respiratory virus that spreads easily among birds through nasal and eye secretions, according to the state Department of Agriculture. The virus can be spread in various ways from flock to flock, including by wild birds, through contact with infected poultry, by equipment, and on the clothing and shoes of caretakers. This virus affects poultry, such as chickens and turkeys, along with some wild bird species such as duck, geese, shorebirds and raptors.
The state agriculture department offered several steps to take, as well as state-level contacts, if you suspect a bird has avian flu in your backyard, in wild birds or at a commercial operation.
Here’s who to contact to report suspected sick birds
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Avian flu found in the poultry of a Hagerstown region farm – Herald-Mail Media
