The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is urging poultry growers and industry partners to remain alert for signs of highly pathogenic avian influenza and to follow strict biosecurity measures as detections continue in parts of the country.
The department confirmed the state’s first case of avian influenza last month in a backyard flock in Mississippi County. Officials say no additional detections have been reported, but recent cases in neighboring states underscore the need for vigilance.
Avian influenza is a highly contagious virus that affects domestic and wild birds, often causing severe illness or sudden death. The disease poses major risks to Arkansas’s $6.7 billion poultry industry, which accounts for the largest share of the state’s agricultural income.
Growers are advised to wash their hands and footwear before and after contact with birds, restrict visitors to poultry areas, limit exposure to wild birds, and quarantine new birds for at least two weeks before adding them to existing flocks.
Anyone who observes sick or dead birds is asked to contact the department’s sick bird hotline at (501) 823-1746. Under state rules, all suspected or confirmed cases must be reported immediately. The department may quarantine affected areas, restrict bird movement, and order depopulation and disinfection to prevent further spread.
More information and biosecurity guidance are available on the department’s website.
File image: Carol M. Highsmith
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