Help prevent avian influenza in Mississippi! FYI there was a positive case of Avian Influenza in Lawrence County, MS on November 5th. Read more about this here http://bit.ly/3taPJVO or read more about how you can prevent it in your flock below...
Basics of Avian Influenza
Many strains of avian influenza (AI) virus exist worldwide that are capable of causing varying degrees of clinical illness in poultry. Wild birds that tend to favor aquatic environments, especially waterfowl and shorebirds, appear to be natural hosts for AI viruses, although domesticated poultry and other birds can also be affected.
Transmission
Avian influenza viruses are shed in the feces and respiratory secretions of birds. In waterfowl, the feces contain large amounts of virus, and the dominant transmission route is thought to be fecal-oral. Realize there is a difference between transmission and spread of avian influenza. Transmission refers to the passing of the disease from one animal to another. Spread refers to the wide diffusion (in this case, geographically) of the disease among large numbers of animals.
Symptoms
Possible symptoms include appetite loss, dehydration, decreased egg production, misshapen eggs, decreased fertility or hatchability, depression, huddling, diarrhea, lethargy, and respiratory signs such as sneezing, coughing, watery eyes, nasal discharge, and swollen sinuses.
Reporting
If you suspect a problem, say something immediately. Don’t wait for things to possibly get worse. Sick and dying birds should be reported to Mississippi Board of Animal Health IMMEDIATELY. Normal daily mortality should not be reported because this will only slow officials in trying to determine the actual disease status. However, a drastic change in flock health status or sudden large increase in mortality should be reported.
Mississippi Board of Animal Health Dead Bird - Public Reporting https://agnet.mdac.ms.gov/MBAHReporta.../publicreportingform
Read more here http://bit.ly/3UiIqHl
Original source can be found here.
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