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MENAN, Idaho — A strain of bird flu wiped out most of a local man's flock, and now the state is quarantining his property.
Andrew Woods, of Menan, tells EastIdahoNews.com his flock of 63 birds was reduced to 10 over the course of three or four days. The flock included a variety of birds, such as ducks, geese, chickens, peahens, peacocks and turkeys.
Last week, Woods saw several concerning symptoms, which prompted him to call the Idaho State Department of Agriculture.
"One was multiple sudden deaths across different species. Sometimes chickens get sick, and they die … but when I have multiple dead chickens and turkeys all in the same day, that raised some alarm," Woods says. "Other birds (in my flock) were lethargic and then passed an hour later."
A veterinarian with the Idaho State Department of Agriculture killed the remaining birds at Woods' property Monday to prevent the virus from spreading.
Woods is pleased with how the state handled it and says it was compassionate toward them and the animals.
Woods is now barred from having any domestic poultry on his property for the next 120 days.
"We have to maintain quarantine on the property from any domesticated poultry to make sure nature does its job and lets the virus die naturally," he says.
This is the fourth case of bird flu in eastern Idaho this year, according to state veterinarian Scott Leibsle, and the 15th case across the state. It's a continuation of last year's outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza, the origin of which is unknown.
The virus spreads primarily through bird droppings and mucus, Leibsle says, which poses a threat to birds grazing in the same area.
In a story last year, Christie Hammons, deputy vet for the Idaho State Department of Agriculture, explained sudden death is one of the most recognizable symptoms farmers can watch for. In larger flocks where producers are really attentive to the amount of feed and water that's consumed, Hammons said farmers are seeing decreased appetite, lethargy, changes in breathing and difficulty in walking and wattles.
Wild waterfowl like ducks and geese are most at risk to exposure. Just like COVID-19 or any other virus, Hammons said isolation is the key to preventing the virus from spreading.
Earlier this year, the Idaho Statesman reported three Idaho dairies were under quarantine after being infected with bird flu, sparking concerns about the virus spreading to cattle.
While bird flu has been circulating among cattle in the U.S., Leibsle says it's a completely different strain of bird flu that's not connected with the spread among bird populations. The strain among cattle began after it cropped up at a Texas farm in March.
Since then, only one Idaho dairy remains under quarantine, Leibsle says, and there's no cause for concern about buying milk at the grocery store.
While there are cases of people contracting the disease from animals, Leibsle says there aren't any human cases in Idaho. In states where people are infected, only a small portion of the population is affected, and the cases are extremely mild.
Health officials say it's always beneficial to practice good hygiene after being around birds or other animals. Wash your hands, and avoid handling other people's flocks or sharing tools. Have clothes and a pair of shoes dedicated to working around the birds. Changing them when you're done is also important.
