Oklahoma poultry owners urged to increase health safety

The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry is encouraging owners of domestic bird and poultry to take additional biosecurity precautions after two new strains of avian influenza have been found in wild waterfowl and domestic poultry.

In the past month, cases have been found in Minnesota, Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, and South Dakota. No humans have become ill from these strains and health officials say there is no danger to humans from eating poultry products.

People should avoid contact with sick or dead poultry or wildlife. If contact does occur, the person should wash his or her hands with soap and water and change clothing before having any contact with healthy domestic poultry and birds.

Any sick birds or unusual bird deaths should be reported to state or federal officials.