A state veterinarian says that a strain of bird flu found in a captive falcon in Columbia Falls has the potential to significantly impact poultry farmers in the state. So far, this is the only case of the H5N2 bird flu strain in Montana.
The H5N2 strain has not been reported to cause problems with human health, but Assistant State Veterinarian Tahnee Szymaski says H5N2 can be devastating to birds.
"Our domestic poultry, chickens, turkeys in particular are very susceptible. We’re seeing mortality rates in turkey flocks in the United States reaching close to 100 percent," Szymaski said.
Chicken flocks aren’t doing much better, dying at a rate of 90-95 percent. Szymaski says H5N2 often moves too fast for bird farmers to notice symptoms.
"With this particular strain the morality rate is so significant that many times people wont see any clinic illness in the birds they’ll just find dead birds."
Szymaski says the best way to protect a flock is to practice good bio-security. Meaning limiting exposure to wild birds, knowing what traffic is on the farm and wearing dedicated footwear or clothing where you raise birds.
Montana’s department of livestock says there are about 40 large poultry farms in the the state, meaning 3,000 or more hens.
Several poultry producers in Northwest Montana were contacted for this story – the farmers did not want their voices on the air and did not seem overly concerned. One farmer said this was an issue that the news media worries about more than farmers.
Szymanski said poultry farmers may not be aware of how dangerous H5N2 is, or may be confident that they know their flock and the land around them.
