Bird Flu Causes Restrictions On Fairs, Exhibits And Sales

INDIANAPOLIS – Bird flu has hit Indiana again.

The Board of Animal Health has banned owners from moving their birds to places where they’ll be in contact with others to try to stop the spread of the illness. The move comes after 77 birds in tested positive for virus.

Shows, exhibitions and public sales that allow integration of birds from different locations are not permitted.

“There will be no birds at any fairs statewide,” said Denise Derrer, public information director of the Indiana State Board of Animal Health.

The ban is expected to be in affect temporarily but might last as long as the end of 2015.

The one reported incident was in Whitley County. A backyard flock of 77 chickens tested positive for the H5 avian influenza virus. The State Board of Animal Health is uncertain how the flock became infected and has been working along with the Department of Natural Resources to track down the cause.

The agencies are testing wild birds – including ducks and geese – and flocks of poultry within three kilometers of the Whitley County site, Derrer said. Six other flocks have been quarantined and tested negative for the virus.

Derrer said the procedure for a safe site requires two separate negative tests.

Wild birds do not show signs of the virus but humans can transfer the virus just by walking over wildlife feces and tracking into their birds’ habitat.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has stated that the risk of transmission to humans is low. The strains of the virus that are currently circulating in North America have no history of causing human illness.

Poultry owners who notice illness in their birds consistent with avian influenza are encouraged to call the Healthy Birds Hotline at 866-536-7593 to speak with a state or federal veterinarian.

Hoosiers who notice five or more dead feeder-type wild birds should contact the Indiana Department of Natural Resources at 812-334-1137.

Max Bomber is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.