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Pulling back the curtains on wage-theft enforcement in MN; Trump's latest attack is on RFK, Jr; NM LGBTQ+ equality group endorses 2024 'Rock Star' candidates; Michigan's youth justice reforms: Expanded diversion, no fees.

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Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says rebuilding Baltimore's Key Bridge will be challenging and expensive. An Alabama Democrat flips a state legislature seat and former Connecticut senator Joe Lieberman dies at 82.

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More Avian Influenza Quarantines in WA

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Wednesday, February 4, 2015   

OROVILLE, Wash. - It's the fourth quarantine in a month, and the second in Okanogan County, as state agriculture officials try to control the spread of what they say is a highly contagious form of avian influenza in Washington.

As its name suggests, the virus affects birds, not people, and is fatal in chickens and turkeys. Since the first of the year, other infected flocks have been found in Clallam County, and quarantines were lifted just a week ago in Benton and Franklin counties.

Hector Castro, communications director for the state Department of Agriculture, said this situation is a first.

"We have never seen high-pathogenic avian influenza in Washington state," he said. "It appears to be brought in through the wild birds, through the wild waterfowl, carrying it along the migratory pathways, which is why we believe we're seeing it crop up here and there in different parts of the state."

In Whatcom County, wild birds tested positive for the virus in December. With one exception, Castro said, the outbreaks have been spotted in small flocks of birds. He said chicken and egg products and game birds are safe to eat as long as they are properly cooked.

Castro described what the quarantines entail.

"Folks might be taking eggs from their flock to friends or neighbors, or moving some of their birds to another property, or selling a bird here or there," he said. "And so, when there's a quarantine, it prohibits any movement of poultry or poultry products within those quarantine zones."

There may be more cases of avian influenza as spring migration gets into full swing. Castro said anyone with flocks of poultry that seem to be experiencing higher mortality or illness can call the Ag Department's Avian Health Hotline at 800-606-3056.


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