High-path avian flu has now spread up the East Coast with cases confirmed in backyard flocks in Maine and New York.
It comes as officials began culling 15,000 turkeys in Indiana, where the fourth case in a commercial flock was confirmed.
In the meantime, USDA researchers are warning poultry producers and even hobbyists to do whatever they can to protect their flocks. The strain is easily transmitted from wild migratory birds, but USDA says that it can also be preventable.
Producers should wash their hands and clean their boots on a regular basis, and you should stop introducing new birds to your flock if you do not know where they came from.
Related:
Georgia Dept of Ag cancels bird shows and sales amid HPAI concerns
Flock of 240K chickens owned by Tyson Foods in KY tested positive for HPAI
Indiana State Board of Animal Health on HPAI response