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Poultry industry prepped for next disease outbreak

A spokesperson for the Michigan Allied Poultry Industry says the threat of highly pathogenic avian influenza has not gone away.

Executive Director Allison Brink tells Brownfield there are still multiple outbreaks with different strains of the disease globally.  “There are a wide range of influenza viruses and each type affects poultry and other avian species differently, and so we’re always aware and looking for these types of diseases.”

She says Michigan’s industry has recently undergone emergency preparedness exercises, hosted by officials from Minnesota which were most affected by the U.S. outbreak.  “In Michigan, we are trying to learn from the lessons of the 2014/2015 outbreak and be prepared in the event that we have an outbreak.”

She says trainings will continue through this spring when the threat of a disease spreading is at its peak.  “Most producers, they’re more concerned during migration season, so spring and fall when we have wild birds migrating—that’s a likely carrier for diseases.”

South Korea has culled more than 33 million birds since November in an effort to control their avian influenza outbreak.

AUDIO: Interview with Allison Brink