Information on Avian Influenza ("bird flu")
Avian Influenza, or “bird flu” as it has become known, is one of those “potential of happening” issues that requires a calm but informed approach. Could a pandemic of bird flu happen in the world, or in our own country – YES. Is it possible it may never happen to the degree some experts are predicting – also a YES. There are as many conflicting answers within the ranks of the experts in this field as there are questions on the topic of bird flu. If the experts cannot agree – what are we (the general public) suppose to believe? It would seem that common sense and well known, time tested practices of dealing with any poultry should continue to be used whether one is raising birds, processing them in cleaning plants or preparing poultry to be cooked. The fact that the H5N1 virus has not mutated to allow the passing of bird flu between humans is huge and it may never happen.
OVERREACTION AND ALARMIST approaches add to unnecessary confusion, fear and panic among the general public.
Oakwood Game Farm is and continues to be an Avian Influenza Monitoring facility for the Ringneck Pheasants and Chukar Partridge that we raise here. This includes a testing of our birds every 90 days for AI. We are working with state and federal health officials, as are most large poultry facilities, and are confident that all of us are doing all that can be done to be on the alert for any signs of problems.
We would also like to provide following information from the Poultry Division of our Minnesota Board of Animal Health office:
The Asian strain of the Bird Flu virus that is circulating in East Asia has never been found in Minneasota or the United States.
Poultry surveillance programs to detect the AI virus are in place.
Poultry production systems in the U.S. are very different from those in East Asia.
There is a low risk of the introduction of the Asian Bird Flu, but potential risks remain with travelers, migrating or smuggled birds.
Response plans are in place to contain and eliminate all AI introductions.
This is NOT a food safety issue in properly cooked poultry.
Please visit www.bah.state.mn.us for additional poultry information and updates.
In the interest of providing as many resources as possible on this subject, we are listing web sites below that will allow you to be better informed.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/
World Health Organization
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza
United States Department of Agriculture
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usdahome?navtype=SU&navid=AVIAN_INFLUENZA
State of Minnesota Bird Flu Website
http://www.state.mn.us/portal/mn/jsp/home.do?agency=PanFlu