Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza confirmed in Colorado backyard flock

Longmont CO

Description

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza has been confirmed in a backyard flock in Pitkin County, Colorado. If you have chickens, turkeys, ducks, or other domesticated avian friends, please visit the following websites for information on the current HPAI pandemic and resources for increasing your biosecurity practices to ensure your flock’s health and safety during this deadly pandemic. HPAI has an extremely high mortality rate for domesticated birds and most die within 48 hours of infection. Wild birds can be infected with the disease and may show no symptoms. Wild birds, mostly water fowl, spread the virus as they migrate. There is no cure and no approved vaccination. Since the virus is spread through feces, saliva, and mucous, practicing proper biosecurity is the only way to protect your flock from infection. The USDA tracks confirmed cases in both wild and domestic birds: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-disease-information/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-2022/2022-hpai-commercial-backyard-flocks The USDA’s news & announcements page: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/newsroom/stakeholder-info/sa_by_date/sa-2022/hpai-co Colorado Department of Agriculture tracks cases in colorado and lists resources for bio security: https://ag.colorado.gov/animals/reportable-diseases/avian-influenza Last week’s (April 6) webinar on HPAI by the state of Colorado: https://youtu.be/IwpB9JW6XeU The USDA’s Defend The Flock Program: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-disease-information/avian/defend-the-flock-program Open Sanctuary’s HPAI compassionate resources: https://opensanctuary.org/article/hpai-biosecurity-checklist/ It is critical that you report sick birds or unsuspecting bird deaths to the State of Colorado: * Sick birds or birds that have died from unknown causes: * Call the Avian Health Hotline at Colorado State University (CSU): * Dead birds: * Submit to the CSU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in Fort Collins for free HPAI Testing: or * Multiple sick birds or multiple unusual bird deaths: * Call the Colorado State Veterinarian’s Office or the USDA-Veterinary Services Colorado Office * Wild Birds * If you find three or more dead wild birds in a specific area within a two week period OR if you see live birds showing clinical signs of disease, please contact your local Colorado Parks and Wildlife office. Thanks for taking the time to read this and for doing everything you can to ensure the health of our avian friends.