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Avian influenza continues to hit backyard MO flocks

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza continues to affect backyard poultry flocks in Missouri. There have been two new cases reported in December: a mixed flock in Harrison County and a chicken flock in Dade County. Ag Director Chris Chinn says there’s outreach and education happening in those areas of the state.

“Wild waterfowl are really the carriers of this as they are in their migration season.”

Chinn encourages poultry owners to monitor their flocks.

“Our team at the department is starting to get really busy, but we are hopeful this won’t go on all winter long. Some of our friends in neighboring states started dealing with this a month before us.”

Chinn says even with HPAI, the food supply, including poultry, turkey and eggs, is still safe. There have been 15 confirmed cases of HPAI in Missouri this year.