Quarintines lifted in area counties

The State Board of Animal Health has lifted quarantines that have been in place in Dickey and LaMoure counties since the confirmation of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5 in poultry flocks there in April. The quarantines restricted the movement of poultry and poultry products in the control zones, 6-mile radiuses around the infected premises.
Teams comprised of staff from the North Dakota Department of Agriculture’s Animal Health Division, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Veterinary Services and local extension offices visited multiple locations in the quarantined areas and tested samples from birds at 20 premises. After two negative rounds of avian influenza testing, the quarantines have been lifted and movement of poultry and poultry products is no longer restricted in the control zones. The two originally infected premises remain quarantined until the cleanup process is complete.
Statewide bird movement to shows, exhibitions and public sales is still halted until further notice.
“We’ve been impressed with the collaboration among agencies in the avian influenza response,” said North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring. “The virus is a serious threat to the livelihood of poultry farmers and the poultry industry as a whole. We sympathize with other states that have been dealing with this on a much larger scale.”
North Dakota has had two cases of HPAI H5N2 in Dickey and LaMoure counties, affecting well over 100,000 birds combined. In the U.S., more than 47 million birds have been affected in approximately 20 states. No human infections with the viruses have been detected in the U.S. and birds from infected flocks do not enter the food system.
Poultry owners should continue to 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.