By Pamela S Kan-Rice
Poultry owners should remain vigilant about protecting their birds because the risk of avian influenza can change as quickly as the weather, says a University of California Cooperative Extension poultry specialist.
Detections in recent weeks of the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus in Sutter and Sonoma counties serve as a reminder that bird flu remains a threat. Animal disease emergency responders are working with the flock owners in both cases to mitigate the spread of disease.
“Disease risk is dynamic, influenced by weather, wildlife movement and human activity,” said Maurice Pitesky, UC Cooperative Extension poultry specialist in the School of Veterinary Medicine at UC Davis.
A drop in temperature in one part of California can drive wild waterfowl carrying HPAI influenza virus to migrate to a warmer part of the state. While migratory birds may bring the HPAI virus and move on, resident waterfowl may continue to spread it because the virus lingers in the environment.
Many poultry farms and homes with backyard chickens are located near bodies of water used by migratory birds and even when waterfowl are not present, virus can remain in the water, air and soil, according to Pitesky.
“Plus, climate – precipitation, moisture on the ground, temperature, state of crop development on fields, etc. – dictates waterfowl activity. It’s just a dynamic situation,” Pitesky said.
Source : ucanr.edu