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U.S. poultry sector remains vigilant against high-path avian flu

High-path avian flu remains a concern for U.S. poultry producers even though no cases have been reported this year.

Steve Olson is executive director of the Turkey Growers and Chicken and Egg Associations in Minnesota.

“We’re thankful that 2018 has been quiet from an avian influenza standpoint, and we continue to be on high-alert because we’re in the migratory season of wild birds moving south for the winter.  This is the time that we’re most susceptible.”

He tells Brownfield surveillance has improved since the avian flu outbreak in 2015, and the poultry sector is adopting enhanced bio-security principles.

“We’re looking at what we can do to make sure we reduce the likelihood of influenza or any kind of a disease getting into those flocks, so that’s been the focus.  And we’re seeing success on that, but we also don’t want to rest on our laurels that it may not be out there at this point.”

Most recently, four cases of low-path avian flu were confirmed in the central valley of California.