Flu respiratory symptoms in birds could include coughing, sneezing, watery eyes, discharge from nasal passages or even neurological signs, such as the inability to walk or a head tilt. Whitworth said the most obvious signal is the rapid increase of birds getting sick or dying in a short amount of time. Unexplained sudden deaths should be reported immediately.
“Call somebody, whether it’s your local veterinarian, your county Extension office or ODAFF,” he said. “Vets and Extension educators are going to notify ODAFF as quickly as possible.”
If the state veterinarian receives a call about a sick bird or birds, a disease investigation will be initiated at no cost to the poultry owner.
“A response to the problem will depend on the findings of the investigation.” Whitworth said. “One backyard poultry operation in the panhandle would be handled differently than a commercial farm in Ottawa or Adair County.”
Owners and managers of backyard flocks can prevent transmission from wild geese and other birds by preventing their chickens from having contact with wild birds. Another recommendation is to cover chicken coops with a roof or tarp to prevent the entry of fecal matter from wild birds that fly overhead.
Whitworth and other OSU Extension specialists are supporting ODAFF’s efforts to promote public webinars and distribute information where poultry is sold or exchanged. More than 50 million birds were depopulated during the last national HPAI outbreak of 2014-15, and although the U.S. is currently not experiencing infection rates at that level, Whitworth said state and federal animal health officials are taking the necessary precautions to prevent another significant event.
While poultry is safe to consume, the economic impact of HPAI on the poultry industry can be devastating.
“Whether you’re a backyard poultry owner or a commercial farmer, dealing with animals dying in large numbers is tough,” he said. “The main thing to emphasize is practicing biosecurity.”
Source : okstate.edu