Bird flu fears trigger precautionary measures
Fears that the bird flu could spread to North Carolina have prompted the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to take measures to prevent that happening.
All poultry owners — even those who keep just a few chickens in the backyard — must register for an N.C. Farm I.D. number. The goal is to make it easier for the department to alert poultry owners in the event of an outbreak. Anyone who is already part of the National Poultry Improvement Plan is exempt from the requirement. www.ncagr.gov/ncfarmid/index.htm
No poultry shows, live bird sales or poultry swap meets will be allowed from Aug. 15 to Jan. 15, 2016. This includes county fairs, meaning that neither the Haywood nor the Macon County fairs will include poultry shows this year.
The flu, though not found to affect human health or food safety, has wreaked havoc on poultry farms in the 21 states where it’s been found so far. At this point it hasn’t reached the East Coast, but as it’s thought to be carried by migratory fowl, Officials are bracing for possible introduction during fall migration.
