The Senate Agriculture Committee will hold a hearing, set for July 7, on avian influenza. The hearing will address the impact of highly pathogenic avian influenza on the U.S. poultry sector, according to the notice from Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS), chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee.
Meanwhile, Kentucky State Veterinarian Robert C. Stout has enacted restrictions on bird sales and movement in Kentucky to protect Kentucky’s poultry industry and bird population from the current avian influenza outbreak. “We are taking these steps out of an abundance of caution,” Dr. Stout said. “Poultry is Kentucky’s leading agricultural commodity, and we will do everything we can to keep our commercial and backyard poultry industries secure.”
In addition, the Arizona Department of Agriculture is investigating the first potential cases of avian influenza in the state. Four properties in the state where the birds and eggs were shipped are under quarantine, state agriculture department officials say. The properties are in Pinal, Santa Cruz, Mohave and Yavapai counties. The cases stem from 13 quail and chickens and about 40 quail and partridge eggs that were imported to Arizona from a facility in Iowa, Arizona officials say. After the birds became sick a short time after arriving, tests were conducted and the initial results, which came back Monday, were positive for H5 avian influenza. Further testing could take up to six days.
