Source: Chris Scott, MEATINGPLACE, 2/26/15


Officials at the Washington State Dept. of Agriculture have lifted two restrictions in quarantine zones in Okanogan County that were affected last month by an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian flu (HPAI) among wild birds, the agency announced in a news release.

The last quarantine zones were established in Riverside, Wash., and Oroville, Wash., and restricted the movement of poultry and poultry products after several flocks tested positive for bird flu. Two flocks were euthanized and subsequent testing determined that there were no traces of avian flu in recent samples, according to federal officials quoted in the report.

The virus has not been detected in commercial flocks in Washington State so far, and state officials have also lifted restrictions on the movement of poultry and poultry products in Clallam, Benton and Franklin counties. The moves clear quarantine restrictions across the entire state, and public health officials have contacted owners of flocks identified as testing positive for HPAI as a precaution.

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