Avian influenza has continued to spread in the Northwestern United States, as Idaho has become the latest state to confirm the presence of the virus.
According to a news release from the Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA), routine surveillance of wild waterfowl in common migratory regions of the state resulted in the discovery of both H5N8 and H5N2 avian influenza.
H5N8 was discovered in wild ducks in Gooding County, Idaho, and the H5N2 strain was confirmed in three falcons from a private, non-commercial flock in Canyon County, Idaho.
According to ISDA, the falcons contracted the virus through contact with wild waterfowl, and the flock is currently under quarantine and the affected birds have been depopulated.
"Both the H5N8 and H5N2 strains of HPAI confirmed in Idaho have previously been identified in incidents in backyard domestic poultry and wild fowl in other northwestern states. It is critical that backyard flock owners and poultry producers take every opportunity to prevent contact between domestic birds and the wild waterfowl that carry the avian influenza virus" said Dr. Bill Barton, ISDA State Veterinarian.
The ISDA is working closely with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, and the USDA to further disease surveillance statewide for avian influenza.
Other states to confirm cases of avian influenza in the past five weeks include Washington, Oregon, Utah and California.
Avian influenza has not been found in commercial poultry anywhere in the United States.
