CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Department of Agriculture is confirming the presence of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Pocahontas County.
The diagnosis comes from a backyard flock, marking the second case in domestic birds in the Mountain State.
According to the WVDA, the diagnosis was made at its Animal Health NAHLN lab in Moorefield. The affected area is under quarantine, and the birds have been depopulated.
West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture Kent Leonhardt, in a statement, said the WVDA worked quickly to prevent any spread.
“The WVDA acted swiftly to contain the disease and remains committed to collaborating with poultry owners to prevent its spread,” Leonhardt said. “As the state’s leading agricultural commodity, protecting the poultry industry is critical, and implementing emergency response plans is essential to safeguarding its future.”
The WVDA released this statement regarding what HPAI is and how it spreads:
“Avian influenza is an airborne respiratory virus that spreads easily among chickens through nasal and eye secretions, as well as manure. The virus also infects a wide variety of other birds, including wild migratory waterfowl. HPAI has been detected in various species of mammals, presumably after the animals come into contact with infected wild birds.”
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that the public health risk tied with HPAI remains low.
Story by Aaron Parker, MetroNews