{"id":28748,"date":"2025-01-09T16:08:09","date_gmt":"2025-01-09T21:08:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/?p=28748"},"modified":"2025-01-10T10:46:26","modified_gmt":"2025-01-10T15:46:26","slug":"poultry-farmers-urged-to-practice-enhanced-biosecurity-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/press-release\/2025\/01\/09\/poultry-farmers-urged-to-practice-enhanced-biosecurity-3\/","title":{"rendered":"Poultry Farmers Urged to Practice Enhanced Biosecurity"},"content":{"rendered":"<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/01\/HPAI-Update-1.png\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"28749\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/press-release\/2025\/01\/09\/poultry-farmers-urged-to-practice-enhanced-biosecurity-3\/attachment\/hpai-update-1\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/01\/HPAI-Update-1.png?fit=940%2C788&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"940,788\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"HPAI Update (1)\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/01\/HPAI-Update-1.png?fit=300%2C251&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/01\/HPAI-Update-1.png?fit=760%2C637&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-28749\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/01\/HPAI-Update-1.png?resize=300%2C251\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"251\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/01\/HPAI-Update-1.png?resize=300%2C251&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/01\/HPAI-Update-1.png?resize=768%2C644&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/01\/HPAI-Update-1.png?w=940&amp;ssl=1 940w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left\"><em><strong><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size: 14pt\">High Path Avian Influenza Identified in Maryland Wildlife\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size: 12pt\"><strong>ANNAPOLIS, MD (January 9, 2025)<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 The<strong>\u00a0Maryland Department of Agriculture<\/strong>\u00a0is urging all poultry farmers to remain vigilant and practice enhanced biosecurity on their farms after U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed findings of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in\u00a0<strong>snow geese<\/strong>\u00a0in<strong>\u00a0Dorchester\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0<strong>Worcester Counties<\/strong>\u00a0on\u00a0<strong>Maryland\u2019s Eastern Shore<\/strong>. These wild bird detections come in the midst of HPAI cases in two commercial poultry operations in Kent County, DE.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size: 12pt\">\u201cThe detections in our region should be very concerning to commercial and backyard flock owners,\u201d said\u00a0<strong>Secretary Kevin Atticks<\/strong>. \u201cMDA is monitoring the situation very closely and will continue to provide updates as they become available.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size: 12pt\">Migratory waterfowl moving through Maryland presents a heightened risk for HPAI, a devastating disease for poultry operations. HPAI is caused by an influenza type A virus, which can infect poultry (chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quails, domestic ducks, geese, and guinea fowl) and is carried by free flying waterfowl such as ducks, geese and shorebirds.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size: 12pt\">Commercial and backyard flock owners are urged to follow these guidelines to maintain a sanitary, biosecure premise:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size: 12pt\">Restrict access to poultry by posting \u201cRestricted Access\u201d signage, securing the area with a gate, or both.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size: 12pt\">Take steps to ensure that contaminated materials on the ground are not transported into the poultry growing house or area.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size: 12pt\">Provide the following items to anyone entering or leaving any area where poultry are kept:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size: 12pt\">Footbaths and foot mats with disinfectant;<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size: 12pt\">Boot washing and disinfectant station;<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size: 12pt\">Footwear change or foot covers.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size: 12pt\">Cover and secure feed to prevent wild birds, rodents or other animals from accessing it.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size: 12pt\">Cover and properly contain carcasses, used litter, or other disease-containing organic materials to prevent wild birds, rodents or other animals from accessing them and to keep them from being blown around by wind.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size: 12pt\">Allow MDA to enter the premises during normal working hours to inspect your biosecurity and sanitation practices.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size: 12pt\">Report any unusual bird deaths or sudden increases in very sick birds to the MDA Animal Health Program at 410-841-5810 or after-hours to 410-841-5971. Also contact the USDA at 866-536-7593.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size: 12pt\">For more information on avian influenza, please visit the department\u2019s\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/mda.maryland.gov\/Pages\/AvianFlu.aspx\">website<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: center\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size: 12pt\"># # #<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: center\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;font-size: 12pt\">Follow Maryland Department of Agriculture on Twitter\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.twitter.com\/mdagdept\">@MdAgDept<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>High Path Avian Influenza Identified in Maryland Wildlife\u00a0 ANNAPOLIS, MD (January 9, 2025)\u00a0\u2013 The\u00a0Maryland Department of Agriculture\u00a0is urging all poultry farmers to remain vigilant and practice enhanced biosecurity on their farms after U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed findings of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in\u00a0snow geese\u00a0in\u00a0Dorchester\u00a0and\u00a0Worcester Counties\u00a0on\u00a0Maryland\u2019s<a href=\"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/press-release\/2025\/01\/09\/poultry-farmers-urged-to-practice-enhanced-biosecurity-3\/\">&nbsp;&nbsp;Read the Rest&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":222,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[911,12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-28748","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bird-flu","category-press-release"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28748","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/222"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28748"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28748\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28750,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28748\/revisions\/28750"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28748"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28748"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28748"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}