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AG Officials Believe Avian Flu Could Be Here by Fall

elizabeth prata
/
creative commons

Maryland Agriculture Secretary Joe Bartenfelder says he expects the Avian flu to hit the state sometime in the fall.

So far, there have been no cases of the disease on Delmarva.

But with the migration of waterfowl from Canada agriculture officials say it’s only a matter of time.

The Salisbury Daily Times reports that agriculture secretary said the state was doing everything it could to protect a $1 billion industry.

This includes a ban to take effect August 25th on displaying poultry at all fairs and shows.

The department has also imposed a requirement that all hatching eggs and poultry entering Maryland be tested within ten days.

The only exception is if they come from facility that has been certified to be clean.  

Waterfowl such as geese have already been barred from this week’s Delaware State Fair.

   

Don Rush is the News Director and Senior Producer of News and Public Affairs at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.