Maryland Farms Taking Precautions To Prevent Avian Flu
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- This week's cold weather is a warning for the Maryland agriculture industry.
Alex DeMetrick reports with the cold comes the threat of massive economic losses.
Last spring in the Midwest, 42 million chickens and turkeys were killed during an outbreak of a deadly strain of Avian flu.
"Within 5 days, 95 percent are dead," said state veterinarian Dr. Michael Radebaugh. "So it's very, very devastating."
According to Maryland's Secretary of Agriculture Joe Bartenfelder, the USDA told them to be prepared for when it happens, not if.
"We've been lucky so far because of the weather," said Bartenfelder. "It's been relatively warm and hasn't pushed a lot of waterfowl down."
But now that's changing with colder weather.
Migrating geese and ducks are starting to move down the East Coast, they are the carriers of Avian flu.
Growers started sealing off their farms in early fall.
"A goose or a duck could fly over and poop and that's how it spreads," said Jenny Rhodes, of Deerfield Farm.
Because the virus can be picked up on shoes and tires, keeping it out is the first line of defense.
The virus is not a threat to human health, but it is to the economy.
"If there's an outbreak anywhere in the state, our export of poultry is stopped," said Bartenfelder.
An industry, that directly generates over a billion dollars annually and another billion and a half in support industries, now under threat as birds fly south.
When an outbreak of Avian flu is reported, the state will immediately quarantine the farm and destroy the flock within 24 hours.
