State: Backyard chickens infected with bird flu 'safely depopulated'

The Massachusetts [music] Department of Agricultural Resources has detected highly pathogenic aven influenza in a backyard flock of chicken in Dukes County. That's on Martha's Vineyard. >> 22 News reporter Sarah Bianma joins us live in studio with ways to prevent the spread of this disease in our region. Exactly. Nicasar. Luckily, there hasn't been any reported cases in our region. The affected birds in Dukes County showed signs of the flu and tested positive for the disease. So, officials had to safely dispose them. They did not find any evidence of contaminated products, but the MDR is advising poultry owners to practice strong biocurity measures. Since bird flu is circulating, there are ways to prevent the domestic poultry from having contact with wild birds, especially around feeding stations. >> Better option would be to grow flowers and bushes and plants that birds can eat off of in the winter instead of bringing them all together into one spot. You should also make sure your chicken and duck coops are always clean. If you notice any illnesses, it should be reported to a veterinarian. If you see five or more sick or dead wild birds at a time, it should be reported to the state. Now, if you happen to get a new set of birds, make sure they are segregated from your flock for at least 30 days. They must be back vaccinated beforehand as well. working for you. Sarah Benay, 22 News.