State asks USDA to pay bird-flu costs

$44,500 requested for poultry testing, mitigation in Scott County outbreak

The Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commission is seeking a $44,500 grant to cover the cost of mitigation of an isolated outbreak of avian influenza in Scott County earlier this year.

Funds for the request would come from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to perform testing for the disease. Arkansas is the second-largest state for poultry production.

Brandon Doss, assistant state veterinarian, said a low-level pathogen was detected in the flock, leading to establishment of a quarantine zone with a 6.2-mile radius for poultry in the area.

The zone included 29 commercial poultry operations and 48 “backyard” flocks that residents had for their own use.

Doss said the state veterinary office tested more than 970 birds in the backyard flocks, while poultry companies handled the testing of commercial flocks.

“It was isolated to that one flock, and that flock was immediately terminated,” Doss said. The birds were humanely euthanized and disposed ofon the premises, he said.

Despite the limited scope of the outbreak, Japan, Russia and China ceased, at least temporarily, buying chicken parts that originated in Arkansas. The quarantine zone was lifted in mid-July.

Before the Scott County outbreak, the most recent incidence of avian flu in Arkansas was in 2008, Doss said.

“It’s a rare occurrence. We have a very strict surveillance program on commercial operations,” he said.

The quarantine took effect June 16. On July 24, samples were submitted to the National Veterinary ServicesLaboratory for testing.

“We’re confident that the poultry in Arkansas is free of avian flu and healthy,” Doss said.

On Thursday, U.S. Rep. Tim Griffin, R-Ark., criticized the actions of the nations that blocked Arkansas poultry.

“Last year alone, Arkansans earned more than a half billion from selling agricultural products overseas,” he said. “Unfortunately the agricultural regulatory processes of our trading partners are often nontransparent and unpredictable and, ultimately, can undermine the intent and spirit of trade agreements.”

Business, Pages 24 on 08/09/2013

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