The Colorado Department of Agriculture is asking all backyard poultry flock owners to immediately increase the biosecurity measures they employ after highly pathogenic avian influenza wiped out a 36-bird flock in Pitkin County last week.
It’s the first case of HPAI in a backyard flock in Colorado. The virus was first detected in Colorado in late March in geese found near Jumbo Reservoir in Sedgwick County. Since then, CDA has issued an emergency order suspending all poultry events in Colorado until further notice.
According to CDA, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory confirmed the latest detection of a HPAI. The Colorado State Veterinarian’s office received a report from a veterinarian in Pitkin County, after 35 out of 36 poultry in a flock died. The flock had known exposure to sick waterfowl in the preceding days. One bird carcass was delivered to the CSU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory for preliminary testing, with confirmatory testing being completed at the USDA NVSL on April 8. The remaining bird was euthanized and the farm is now under quarantine. CDA is actively working with local officials to increase monitoring and detection activities in Pitkin County.
State Veterinarian Maggie Baldwin said her office is working to provide information to backyard flock owners about how to protect their flocks and will continue to monitor commercial operations
“CDA and USDA field staff will be performing outreach activities to increase awareness of the risk for the disease,” Baldwin said. “HPAI is a highly fatal disease that can decimate a small flock in less than 48 hours, so it is critical for bird owners to take measures that prevent the introduction and spread of the virus.”
Flock owners are being asked to step up biosecurity on their premises, including keeping a closed flock, decreasing interactions between domestic and wild birds, and keeping feed away from wild birds. The State Veterinarian’s office also has been working with Colorado’s commercial poultry operations to strengthen individual facility biosecurity plans.
Bird owners seeking more resources, like biosecurity plans, signage, and webinars, can visit the USDA’s Defend the Flock website or visit PoultryBiosecurity.org.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the recent HPAI detections do not present an immediate public health concern. No human cases of the avian influenza virus have been detected in the United States. Avian influenza does not present a food safety risk; poultry and eggs are safe to eat when handled and cooked properly. As a reminder, the proper handling and cooking of all poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165˚F is recommended as a general food safety precaution.
