Do you own domestic poultry? As you may be aware, a disease called the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) virus affected a number of mid-West farms last year. While there have been no human cases detected in the US or internationally, domestic poultry are highly susceptible to HPAI HS virus. It spreads rapidly from bird to bird and typically results in high mortality rates. The VT Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets is encouraging poultry owners, producers and enthusiasts to prepare for HPAI, which is expected to impact the East Coast in the fall of this year or spring of 2016.
Please visit http://agriculture.vermont.gov/animal_health to fill out and return to VAAFM a Biosecurity Audit Form which details information that will be required for farms to move poultry and livestock, equipment and production related conveyances on and off of the property in the event of an HPAI outbreak.
You may obtain more detailed information here: http://agriculture.vermont.gov/pr/state_veterinarians_encourage_poultry_producers_and_enthusiast for more information.