Poultry Disease: Avian Flu (Avian Influenza)

Avian Flu is impacting domestic poultry (including Geese, Quail, Chickens, Ducks, Pheasants and Turkeys) throughout the entire state of Arizona. Avian Influenza is a naturally occurring virus in wild (non-domestic) birds that can be transmitted to domesticated poultry. The virus can be found in the feces, nasal secretions or saliva of infected birds. There are two well known versions of the virus - low pathogenic and high pathogenic. High pathogenic is very fatal to birds. The transmission route is from a wild or domestic bird that may or may not have symptoms, to other birds nearby. People can spread the virus from bird to bird or flock by poor bio-security habits. Humans can rarely catch Avian Influenza, but it is possible so care should be taken when working around birds with a suspected or known infection