ACCOMACK COUNTY, Va. (WAVY) — Bird flu has been detected in Accomack County on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services said Thursday.
Testing of a commercial broiler flock in the county returned presumptive positive results for H5N1 avian influenza, or bird flu. The location of the positive bird flu case was not disclosed.
The state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has quarantined the affected location and is performing additional surveillance and testing within a has quarantined the affected premises and is performing additional surveillance and testing within a 6.2 mile area (10 kilometers) around the affected flock.
It said the commercial flock on the affected property is being “depopulated” Thursday to prevent spread of the disease, and birds from the flock will not get into the food system.
The samples were tested at the Maryland Department of Agriculture Laboratory in Salisbury, Maryland, part of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network.
More samples have been sent to the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories to get further confirmation.
The state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is working closely with the USDA agency as well as the Maryland Department of Agriculture and the Delaware Department of Agriculture to respond to all bird flu incidence on the Delmarva Peninsula.
With the new case, and a prevalence of the virus in the wild bird population, poultry owners should increase vigilance in protecting their flocks from getting bird flu by doing the following:
- Limit, monitor and record any movement of people, vehicles or animals on or off their farm
- Allow only essential workers and vehicles to enter the farm, limiting chances to bring the virus from outside sources
- Avoid going to other poultry farms and any unnecessary travel off the farm
- Disinfect equipment, vehicles, footwear and other items that come into contact with flocks
- Keep your flock away from wild or migratory birds, especially waterfowl
- Isolate any ill animals and contact your veterinarian
- For more information on improving biosecurity, visit Defend the Flock
Anyone who has sick poultry or whose flock experiences increased mortality should following procedures of contacting the company they grow for when they notice signs of disease.
Virginia bird owners are asked to report sick birds or unusual bird deaths to the state veterinarian’s office at 804-692-0601 or at vastatevet@vdacs.virginia.gov.
People should minimize direct contact with wild birds by using gloves, and anyone who makes contact with wild birds should wash their hands using soap and water, and change clothing before coming into contact with healthy domestic poultry and birds.
Hunters are asked to dress game birds in the field whenever possible and uphold good biosecurity to prevent any possible spread of disease. Hunters can find more biosecurity information at https://dwr.virginia.gov/wildlife/diseases/avian-influenza/.