Chicken Whisperer Summer 2025 | Page 10

Chicken Chatter Biosecurity Basics
Chicken Chatter Biosecurity Basics
Separate species to protect. Prevention is the best defense.

Biosecurity Key in Avian Flu

Keeping Species Apart Can Save Your Poultry

By Christy Caplan

For chicken keepers, the well-being of your flock is always a top priority. Staying informed about threats like the bird flu, otherwise known as H5N1 virus, is an essential part of ensuring your birds remain healthy.

Known scientifically as highly pathogenic avian influenza, this virus has had a widespread impact on wild birds, poultry and other animals. Although the risk to human health is very low and there is no evidence of person-to-person spread, taking proactive steps to prevent infection is critical to protecting your flock.
What Chicken Keepers Should Know
The H5N1 virus is widespread among wild bird populations, leading to outbreaks in poultry and even dairy cows. Waterfowl migration is one of the main ways that avian influenza spreads. Migratory birds carry a mix of avian influenza viruses as their routes overlap, which increases the likelihood that infected waterfowl will share these viruses.
For example, a wild duck carrying the virus may stop in a wetland or lake and its feces could contaminate the environment. Your chickens are then at high risk from the infected waterfowl if they intermingle near water sources. The virus can spread quickly in such environments, devastating entire flocks of poultry.
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H5N1 Detections in Livestock and Poultry
Here’ s a brief timeline of key developments:
• March 2024 saw the first detections of H5N1 in U. S. dairy cattle.
• April 2024 included the first human infection, linked to a worker on a Texas dairy farm.
• Late 2024 highlighted the risk of virus transmission through contaminated raw pet food, affecting cats in states like Oregon and California.
• January 2025 brought news of the first U. S. human fatality from H5N1, further underscoring the importance of vigilance.
• April 2025 saw bird flu in several mammal species in the Texas Panhandle, including foxes, raccoons, striped skunks and domestic cats, according to a press release from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
• April 2025 brought a nasal vaccine introduced for livestock. This will greatly reduce the likelihood of humans and other animals contracting the bird flu.

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