North Dakota has seen two cases of avian influenza emerge in commercial bird operations. As a result officials have implemented state-wide regulations for transporting birds. This week the state Board of Animal Health agreed to keep those protocols in place. State Veterinarian Susan Keller says the move underscores the seriousness of the illness…
“…We are now looking at the largest foreign animal disease outbreak we’ve ever dealt with in the United States. That’s why there’s concern. And there’s still a lot of questions about bio-security – what is needed to prevent the virus from moving. So it’s not even about birds it’s also about the possibility of having footwear, or vehicles or vectors or other objects bringing the virus in.”
Keller says the restrictions will be reviewed when the Board meets again in December. She says the steps follow suit with what other states are doing to address the threat of avian influenza.