News Releases

Home  |  Programs  |  Divisions  |  Links  |  About Us  |  Contact Us

News Release 5-1-2002

Return to 2002 News Releases

DOUGLASS SUPPORTS DECISION TO CANCEL 2002 POULTRY FESTIVAL

West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture Gus R. Douglass praised the West Virginia Poultry Association for canceling the 2002 Poultry Festival and Convention, originally scheduled for July 22-27. An outbreak of Avian Influenza (AI) in Virginia prompted the decision.

“I commend the Poultry Association for exhibiting the courage to cancel a Moorefield tradition that provides a decided economic impact for the town,” Commissioner Douglass said. “However, AI could result in an even larger, and negative, effect. Our state has remained free of this disease because of the activities of the Department of Agriculture and the biosecurity measures taken by local farmers and others in the poultry industry.”

Commissioner Douglass added that the state’s AI-free status allows it to ship products overseas to nations that have placed embargoes on poultry from other states. He also noted that large events, such as the Poultry Festival, are perfect conditions for the spread of animal diseases, including AI.

Commissioner Douglass recently banned the importation of litter from Virginia and earlier suspended live bird markets in West Virginia. Virginia has been working to control the spread of the disease, which has resulted in quarantines at more than 100 farms and the destruction of approximately 2.5 million birds.

“Given the continuing situation in Virginia, I feel the Poultry Association did the only prudent thing it could,” Commissioner Douglass said . “We remain in a high state of alert. WVDA employees are exercising the highest level of biosecurity protocol, and we continue to recommend that poultry facilities do the same.”

To minimize the possibility of contracting AI on their farms, producers should implement the following precautions:

• Manage flocks with an all-in, all-out philosophy; that is, don’t mix new birds in with established flocks.
• Eliminate contact between flocks and wild birds, especially migratory waterfowl - which are know carriers of the disease - and waters they may have used.
• Permit only essential workers and vehicles to enter the farm.
• Essential workers should change into clean work clothes at the farm, and back into street clothes when they leave the farm; hands and shoes should be
thoroughly scrubbed and disinfected. Disinfectant foot baths are not an adequate
substitute.
• Thoroughly clean and disinfect equipment and vehicles (including tires and
undercarriage) when entering pand leaving a farm.
• Do not borrow or loan farm vehicles or equipment.
• Do not visit other farms or live bird markets; minimize personal contact among fellow farmers.

AI is a viral disease affecting the respiratory, digestive and/or nervous system of many species of birds, including commercial chickens and turkeys. It is transmitted through fecal and oculo-nasal discharges, and the virus can remain viable for long periods of time at moderate temperature. It can survive indefinitely when frozen, and is easily spread by contaminated equipment, supplies and people, although it is not considered a threat to human health.

An epidemic of the disease in the northeastern United States in 1983-84 resulted in the depopulation of 17 million birds and an economic loss of $70 million.
To report suspicious signs on your farm, contact WVDA Animal Health Division, 304/558-2214.

Return to 2002 News Releases

Home  |  Programs  |  Divisions  |  Links  |  About Us  |  Contact Us

©2001, 2002 West Virginia Department of Agriculture, All Rights Reserved

Contact the Webmaster