FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 9, 2002
Contact: Mark Anthony, ODA Communications, 614-752-9817

Ohio Bans Importation of Live Poultry from Virginia, North Carolina
Precaution Will Help Prevent Spread of Avian Influenza to Ohio Poultry

REYNOLDSBURG  -- The State of Ohio today announced new regulations to prohibit the importation into Ohio of any live chickens or turkeys from Virginia and North Carolina as a precautionary step to prevent the spread of avian influenza (AI) from those states. The highly contagious viral disease, which is generally not harmful to humans but can devastate the state’s poultry production, has lingered in Virginia since mid-March and was identified in North Carolina last week. The regulations, issued by proclamation by Governor Bob Taft, take effect immediately.

“We are taking this action to reduce the risk of exposing our poultry flocks to this devastating disease,” said Ohio Agriculture Director Fred Dailey. “Ohio is a large producer of turkeys, broilers, and layers and is the nation’s second largest egg producer. The economic stakes are huge. If the disease were to spread here, the economic impact could be up to $3.3 billion.”

AI is highly contagious and can be transmitted to poultry through contact with other poultry and with contaminated vehicles, crates, equipment, and people. The strains found in Virginia and North Carolina are categorized as “low-path,” or low mortality -- it sickens them to the point where production is depressed, and a state’s animal health officials may elect to quarantine and euthanize flocks if necessary. Dailey is also concerned that this strain can mutate to one of the more virulent “high-path” strains, which happened in Pennsylvania in 1984 and resulted in the depopulation of 17 million birds.

Dailey said the ban on live poultry imports from Virginia and North Carolina comes just in time because many small hatcheries are sending chicks and poults (juvenile turkeys) cross-country to fill mail orders, and the season is just beginning for poultry swaps and shows for both commercial breeders and hobbyists.

The ban will be lifted for each state thirty days after the last quarantine in each state is lifted. It was issued under a section of state law, ORC 941.10 (B), that allows the Governor, acting on information from the state agriculture director, to restrict the importation of any animal from another state that may carry a disease that could endanger the health of animals in Ohio.

The ban supplements Ohio regulations already in place allowing the refusal of poultry imports from quarantined farms or areas in Virginia and North Carolina. There is also a long-standing state requirement that all livestock and poultry brought into Ohio have a certificate of veterinary inspection to make sure they are disease-free. The state agriculture department monitors the health and movement of all livestock and poultry in Ohio for the presence of infectious animal diseases.

Those wanting more information on avian influenza or the regulatory restrictions on importation of poultry from Virginia and North Carolina may call the agriculture department’s Division of Animal Industry toll-free at 800-282-1955. (EDITORS: Please view fact sheet for biosecurity advice for farmers.)

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