NORTH DAKOTA STATE FAIR
April 28, 2015
For Immediate Release
MINOT, N.D – The North Dakota State Fair has cancelled the 2015 Open Class, 4-H and FFA Poultry Shows. This is in response to the request by the State Board of Animal Health to halt bird movement to shows, exhibitions and public sales within the state due to the potential exposure to H5 avian influenza virus.
North Dakota Department of Agriculture
April 28, 2015
For immediate release
Poultry/bird movements limited to control spread of avian influenza
BISMARCK, N.D. – To protect North Dakota’s poultry industry from potential exposure to H5 avian influenza virus, the State Board of Animal Health (BOAH) has halted bird movement to shows, exhibitions and public sales within the state in which birds from different locations are intermingled at an event. This does not apply to approved private sales that meet North Dakota importation requirements.
“The state board is taking this precaution to reduce the risk of avian influenza exposure to North Dakota birds,” State Veterinarian Dr. Susan Keller said. “Mixing birds could unnecessarily increase the risk of exposure.”
This board action prohibits the specified poultry/bird movements until further notice. BOAH is continuing to monitor and assess the disease threat, which will be reviewed at their June 10 quarterly meeting.
North Dakota has had two confirmed cases of avian influenza in commercial poultry operations in Dickey and LaMoure counties affecting over 100,000 birds. Nationally, the outbreak has affected nearly 10 million birds in 13 states.
Bird owners should immediately report death loss to their local and state veterinarian, restrict access to their property, prevent contact between their birds and wild birds and practice enhanced biosecurity.
State Veterinarian Dr. Susan Keller is reminding anyone bringing birds into North Dakota to contact the North Dakota Department of Agriculture’s Animal Health Division at 701-328-2655 to ensure they are meeting all importation requirements.
More information about avian influenza and biosecurity is available at www.nd.gov/ndda/disease/avian-influenza and from the USDA-APHIS at www.aphis.usda.gov.
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MEDIA: For more information, please contact Michelle Mielke at 701-328-2233 or mmielke@nd.gov or Dana Hager at 701-328-4763 or djhager@nd.gov
Michelle Mielke
Public Information Specialist
North Dakota Dept. of Agriculture 701.328.2233 office
701.516.6771 cell