Union County veterinarian warns avian influenza remains a local threat to poultry industry

Dr. Jeff Broadway, the county veterinarian, told the Union County Consolidated Human Services Board on Jan. 10 that highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) remains active nationwide and has implications for local poultry producers and public health.

"This is an across the country issue," Dr. Jeff Broadway said, explaining that waterfowl act as carriers and that spillover has been detected in multiple species.

The update outlined how waterfowl feces are the primary environmental source of virus introduction to domestic flocks, how the virus can present differently across species, and what steps residents, producers and health officials should take to reduce risk. Broadway said the county has seen positive detections in the past: a captive black-headed vulture and a bald eagle tested positive in recent years, and state-level positives have appeared…