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Thread: Avian Flu in SC

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2001
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    Wateree, South Carolina
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    48,812

    Default Avian Flu in SC

    Hunters, people who handle birds warned after avian flu detected in South Carolina

    WYFF 47:21 PM EST
    Jan 14, 2022

    COLUMBIA, S.C. —
    A wild duck harvested by a hunter in Colleton County is the first wild bird since 2016 to be found infected in the United States with highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI, the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed Friday.

    Officials said in a release that the Eurasian H5 type of bird disease was found in an American wigeon and was tested by the Clemson University Veterinary Diagnostic Center in Columbia. and the diagnosis was confirmed by The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

    This type of HPAI virus is considered a low risk to people but it can be a danger to the poultry industry, which is an important part of South Carolina’s agricultural economy.

    "We’re asking that anyone involved with poultry or egg production, from large farms all the way down to backyard flocks, review their biosecurity practices to assure the health of their birds," said state veterinarian Michael J. Neault, who directs Clemson Livestock Poultry Health, which includes the Veterinary Diagnostic Center.

    "So far we have no indication that HPAI has jumped from wild migratory birds to poultry and we’d very much like to keep it that way," Neault said.

    USDA has alerted the World Organization of Animal Health, known as OIE, of the discovery as required under international trade protocols.

    So far in 2022, Europe has been kept busy with H5 cases of their own, reporting to the OIE scattered infections across the continent from Portugal to Bulgaria. In December, Canada reported two separate cases in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

    Julie Helm, a veterinarian and poultry specialist with Clemson Livestock Poultry Health, advises South Carolinians to protect small poultry flocks with two simple statements: “Keep it AWAY and Keep it CLEAN.”

    Keep it AWAY: Keep your poultry and pets away from wild ducks and geese and their environment — ponds, lakes and swampy areas. Take care not to track the wild waterfowl virus back to your flock if you are hunting or hiking in the wild waterfowl environment. Buy new birds from a reputable source. Keep new birds or returning show birds separated from your established home flocks for 30 days. Keep pests (rodents, raccoons, opossums, rabbits) out of bird pens. Keep visitors out of your bird areas; what may they be carrying on their feet, clothing or vehicles?

    Keep it CLEAN: Clean cages and coops. Clean any equipment first before it comes onto your property. Wear designated farm shoes and clothing to care for your birds. Wash your hands before and after working with your birds. Change birds’ food and water daily. Wash your vehicles and trailers after visiting other poultry facilities and before you come home — Go through a car wash.

    The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers the risk of HPAI H5 infections to the public to be low. No human infections from Eurasian H5 viruses have occurred in the United States.

    Nonetheless, USDA Veterinary and Wildlife Services recommends hunters and others to take precautions to protect themselves and the domestic birds they may encounter from the virus:

    Do not harvest or handle wild birds that are obviously sick or found dead.
    Dress your game birds in the field whenever possible. If you must dress birds at home, clean them in an area in which your poultry and pet birds have no access.
    Keep a separate pair of shoes to wear only in your game cleaning area. If this is not possible, wear rubber footwear and clean/disinfect your shoes before entering or leaving the area.
    Do not eat, drink or smoke while cleaning game.
    Always wear rubber gloves while cleaning game or cleaning bird feeders.
    Wash hands with soap and water immediately after handling game or cleaning bird feeders. If soap and water are not available, use alcohol wipes.
    Use dedicated tools for cleaning game, whether in the field or at home. Do not use those tools around your poultry or pet birds.
    Wash all tools and work surfaces with soap and water and then disinfect them.
    Avoid cross-contamination. Keep uncooked game in a separate container, away from cooked or ready-to-eat foods.
    Cook game meat thoroughly; poultry should reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit to kill disease organisms and parasites.
    Double bag the offal and feathers. Tie the inner bag; be sure to take off your rubber gloves and leave them in the outer bag before tying it closed.
    Place the bag in a trash can that poultry and pet birds cannot access. This trash can should also be secure against access by children, pets or other animals.

    https://www.wyff4.com/article/wild-b...ters/38773931#

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2002
    Location
    greenville
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    1,550

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    They check the puddlers where I hunt every weekend.

  3. #3
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    Feb 2003
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    united states of america
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    This is the get your shit together with poultry bio security variety.

  4. #4
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    Jan 2017
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    Better step in the chlorine powder before you hit the houses

  5. #5
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    Nov 2008
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    Summerville
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    See where a second one was found

  6. #6
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    Jan 2003
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    SC
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    It's in Hyde county NC now.

    Sent from my moto z4 using Tapatalk

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Charleston
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    18,404

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    Quote Originally Posted by Sportin' Woodies View Post
    This is the get your shit together with poultry bio security variety.
    Can confirm. Good fella that leases our place quit duck hunting because of this bug.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Manning
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    2,176

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    I have several friends that are in the poultry business and travel a fair amount to duck hunt. Their season is done.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Dec 2015
    Posts
    3,415

    Default

    That sure was a pretty Shoveler.
    RIP


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