# 966
DACS (Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services) in Virginia has issued special rules this afternoon to help curb any potential spread of the avian flu virus in that state.
This announcement from WHSV.com ABC-TV Channel 3 (reformatted for easier reading).
Special Announcement from V.A. DACS on Avian Flu
Effective immediately, Dr. Richard Wilkes, State Veterinarian with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, has canceled all public sales, shows, and exhibitions of live poultry throughout Virginia and has prohibited land application of poultry litter, manure or bedding in 17 Virginia counties.
The cancellation order is due to the discovery of antibodies for avian influenza during routine pre-slaughter testing on a flock of turkeys in Shenandoah County. The prohibition against shows and sales is effective statewide and will remain in effect until July 30, 2007 unless extended by the State Veterinarian.
Dr. Wilkes has also ordered that no poultry litter, manure or bedding removed from poultry houses may be land-applied at any location or moved from the farm of origin in the following counties: Albemarle, Alleghany, Augusta, Bath, Clarke, Culpeper, Frederick, Greene, Highland, Madison, Orange, Page, Rappahannock, Rockbridge, Rockingham, Shenandoah and Warren from July 9, 2007 through July 30, 2007.
This Order of Cancellation will allow for the completion of initial surveillance to determine if poultry flocks within the Commonwealth are at an increased risk of disease from avian influenza.
While avian influenza is not harmful to humans, people can spread it on their shoes, with their vehicles or through movement of litter. An infected chicken, turkey, game bird, or waterfowl at an event could infect other birds, which would then carry the disease back to their points of origin.
The Department's Web site has additional information about avian influenza, including the full text of the cancellation proclamation.
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