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News Release 5-24-2002 |
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HUNTING BAN ENACTED TO COMBAT AVIAN INFLUENZA At the request of Commissioner of Agriculture Gus R. Douglass, Governor Bob Wise and Division of Natural Resources Director Ed Hamrick have placed a temporary moratorium on hunting and dog training in eight eastern counties. The move is in response to the outbreak of Avian Influenza (AI), which, although harmless to humans, is easily spread by people, animals and contaminated vehicles. The moratorium is effective for 60 days, starting May 24, at noon, and applies to the Mountain State’s poultry-producing counties: Grant, Hardy, Pendleton, Greenbrier, Monroe, Fayette, Hampshire and Mineral Counties. “I thank Governor Wise and Director Hamrick for their speedy response to my request for this moratorium,” said Commissioner Douglass. “I believe it is critical that this state take every precaution to protect our $200 million-a-year poultry industry. I also want to thank the hunters and dog trainers in the affected areas for bearing with us in these difficult circumstances.” Commissioner Douglass has already banned display of poultry and eggs at fairs, festivals, markets, auctions and other public gatherings, along with the importation of poultry litter from Virginia. West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) personnel are exercising the highest level of biosecurity protocol. They are only permitted to enter farms when absolutely necessary, and then must wear disposable clothing and sanitize their vehicles when leaving the farms. To date, only one West Virginia farm has tested positive for AI. Two houses containing approximately 14,000 chickens were depopulated May 11. Continuing testing has not revealed any other positive houses. A mid-March AI outbreak in Virginia has forced the quarantine of approximately 170 farms and the depopulation of nearly four million birds in an effort to eradicate the disease, which hurts poultry productivity and threatens interstate and international trade.
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©2001, 2002 West Virginia Department of Agriculture, All Rights Reserved |
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