TYLER, TX (EAST TEXAS NEWS) – Robin Hood is one of the thousands of farmers in Texas who are taking precautions to protect his animals during the avian influenza outbreak.
When it comes to raising chickens, Hood has put in extra safety measures, especially in light of the recent avian flu outbreak.
“Avian influenza is a type of flu that mainly affects birds,” explains Richard Wallace, an infectious disease expert with UT Health East Texas.
Recently, it has also affected people.
According to CDC data, a total of 66 confirmed human cases of avian influenza have been reported, and, for the moment, only one death has been confirmed.
“All of them lived on farms and had direct exposure to infected poultry,” says Dr. Wallace.
Robin Hood’s farm has developed a health system in which his chickens are kept inside a mobile chicken tractor.
“We move it every day,” Hood says. “We use that shelter to prevent them from interacting with the wild bird population. By keeping those two populations separate, we significantly reduce the risk of transmitting the flu to our flock.”
Older hens are more susceptible to contracting avian influenza.
“The older hens we raise lay eggs,” says Dr. Wallace. “And that’s why you have trouble finding eggs, and when you do, they’re very expensive.”
Rural areas of Texas are also far more prone to contracting avian influenza, but so far Texas has only experienced exposure, which is in dairy herds.
“If you don’t work on a farm, your exposure is insignificant,” says Dr. Wallace. “And if you come into contact with avian influenza, it is treatable.”
According to Dr. Wallace, avian influenza is treated like any other flu-like illness.
Rural areas of Texas are also highly prone to contracting avian influenza, but so far, Texas has only experienced exposure in dairy herds.
Robin Hood states that, although managing his farm costs a bit more work, it’s worth it to help protect his chickens and his community.
