OSU's Josh Payne Urges Poultry Producers To Be Ready In Case Bird Flu Flies Into Oklahoma

By Dr. Josh Payne,

Oklahoma State University Extension Poultry Specialist

Oklahoma State University Extension Poultry Specialist Dr. Josh Payne warns that avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, is an issue Oklahoma poultry producers need to have on the forefront of their radars.

Avian influenza is a strain of influenza carried by migratory water fowl including ducks and geese. According to Dr. Payne, it is actually just as common as human influenza. He talked with Radio Oklahoma Ag Network's Kalee Horn about the challenges of avian influenza- and you can hear their conversation by clicking on the LISTEN BAR at the bottom of this story.

“If it’s transmitted to domestic poultry, such as chickens or turkeys, it can result in a wide-spread disease and death. In fact, it’s considered a foreign animal disease here in the U.S.”

2015 saw bird flu fly onto the national stage, as it became the largest animal health disease outbreak in US history. “It affected 50 million birds and cost about a billion dollars to keep it contained. We saw 6.5% of the U.S. commercial turkey inventory and about 10% of the U.S. commercial egg-layers destroyed during this outbreak.”

With poultry being one of our state’s large agricultural sectors, Payne says Oklahoma’s commercial poultry producers as well as backyard flock owners need to be knowledgeable on this issue as well as the warning signs. “Symptoms could include lack of energy, loss of appetite, decreased production. Now if you see one or two birds sick, there’s not a large concern. If you see several birds that are sick, a local veterinarian, county extension agent, or the state veterinarian should certainly be contacted.”