OLYMPIA, Wash. – The Washington State Department of Agriculture is requesting a 30-day suspension of all live market poultry sales in response to a bird flu outbreak.
The shutdown is not mandatory but officials are very concerned after flocks in Whatcom and six other counties were found to be infected this month.
The Washington state veterinarian said during a news conference that all nine infected flocks had substantial exposure to wild waterfowl and that no commercial flocks have been infected.
She says the disease is unlikely to affect other animals but urges pet owners to keep their animals away from dead birds.