Massachusetts Urges Poultry Safety Amid Bird Flu Scare
The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) has reported that bird flu has been detected on Martha’s Vineyard. Officials said a backyard flock of infected poultry was safely disposed of…
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The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) has reported that bird flu has been detected on Martha's Vineyard. Officials said a backyard flock of infected poultry was safely disposed of in accordance with public health policies.
State authorities are urging backyard poultry owners to implement strong safety measures to prevent the spread of the flu to wild birds. These measures include housing birds in indoor spaces, such as chicken coops or covered pens; preventing dirt and feces from entering coops; and minimizing contact with wild birds.
Officials said that while seasonal influenza is on the rise, it is not the same as Avian Influenza, which rarely makes humans ill.
“To date, there have been no reported cases of HPAI in humans in Massachusetts, and there is minimal risk for those who do not engage in prolonged direct contact with infected animals,” said MDAR officials in a statement shared with CapeCod.com.
Officials are asking the public to assist with the following measures to mitigate the spread of bird flu:
- Report sick or dead poultry at mass.gov/reportpoultry. Submit observations of five or more sick or dead wild birds at a single location at mass.gov/reportbirds.
- Avoid contact with sick or dead birds and other animals to reduce the risk of spreading bird flu.
- Keep cats indoors in affected areas due to high susceptibility to HPAI. Also, keep dogs leashed and avoid raw diets for pets.
State and local agencies are continuing surveillance measures for bird flu across the Commonwealth.
