Most South Dakota poultry operations are now in the process of repopulating following this year’s outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. State Veterinarian Dr. Dustin (oh-duh-koh-ven) Oedekoven says close to 80 percent of the state’s poultry operators are repopulating their flocks.
Oedekoven says they’re not sure what will happen this fall with avian influenza reoccurrence as wild birds return to the state. He says there could be a different strain of the virus that producers may have to deal with.
Oedekoven says most of South Dakota’s poultry producers have done a good job with biosecurity as they prepare for fall.
Oedekoven says the Animal Industry Board will work with state wildlife agencies in battling the bird flu. He says the wildlife agencies will be conducting surveillance on wild birds to try and determine what strain of bird flu will appear in the fall.