New END Quarantine Area In Arizona

[TAWhatley]

Here is a copy of a post describing a new quarantine area in Arizona where END positive chickens were found.

Cindy if nobody from East Valley Wildlife is following the END situation closely, I would encourage you to do so yourself or speak with Nancy and get somebody checking http://www.cocka2.com regularly and/or joining the END-birds list at Yahoogroups.

Terry Whatley
---------------------------------------------

OK, here's the scoop! There is an official quarentine covering
Bethany Home Road to Glendale Ave and Cotton Ln. to Citrus.
Residents in that area have been contacted and some have been tested.

What has brought this about is a woman had several chickens die over
a two week period and called the Departement of Agriculture. They
depopulated the residence and have tested the birds in a three step
process. First they looked for the lesions.. positive. They then
tried to isolate the virus.. positive. Then began cultures..
results pending.

These chickens were bought at a feed store in a highly populated
area that is visited by a huge number of people everyday!

I spoke to a woman tonight who is in the quarentine area, she did
not let anyone on her property to test her birds but they will be
back in a few days with a warrant.

This area is pretty much in the middle of no where and most of the
homes are on 2 acre lots. A breeder of grass parakeets is also in
the quarentine area, it is estimated he has 400 birds or more on his
property. He didn't allow officials on his property but bring 8
birds to the fence line and allowed them to take swabs for testing.

What REALLY gets to me is that this had been going on all week long
and many aviculturists here in Arizona KNEW about it but convinced
someone in the quarentine area to keep their mouths shut.


[This message has been edited by TAWhatley (edited March 01, 2003).]

[Mary L]

Terry,
I think the feed store in question is Pratts! They are located in that vicinity and sell chickens, ducks, rabbits, pigeons to only mention a few. I have several friends that live in that area that raise pigeons! If the chickens that have END were bought at Pratts it will only be a matter of time until many more cases are discovered!

Mary L

[TAWhatley]

Mary, that is indeed very bad news if that is the case. Hopefully things have not gotten so horribly out of control in Arizona as they have here in California and the outbreak can be quickly contained with minimal loss of birds.

Terry Whatley

[AZWhitefeather]

Hello Mary,
Thanks for the heads up.

Pursuant to Mary's post, there is a feed store in the area where the most recent END cases were confirmed.
The following may or may not be significant:
I contacted Pratt's feed store & inquired on the possibility of purchasing a couple chickens, stating I had heard of an out break of some disease in the Glendale area & asked if they recommended someone purchasing any 'feathered friends' at this time.
Without a reply the gentleman who answered the phone immediately hung up.
You be the judge!
Cindy

[TAWhatley]

Hi Cindy,

Well, that certainly was an interesting phone call you you made and quite a short one too! That's a shame the fellow just hung up. If that store is where the END postitive chickens came from it is all going to come out in the news anyway. He could have at least given you the courtesy of a reply.

Also, that link in your next post is not working for me.

Terry Whatley


[This message has been edited by TAWhatley (edited March 01, 2003).]

[AZWhitefeather]

Hi Terry,
I tried that site as well & it didn't go through. I went back & I believe the reason is because it's a 2 part story. Perhaps you will know how to bring it up properly. I Clicked on Horror Stories, then clicked on 'link' to horror stories, It's titled: Newcastle News, I believe.
I was just going to point out the poor man in the article took the word of the 'official' instead of reading the court order. For that, everyone of his birds were placed in a transparent bag & gassed, as he witnessed the event.
It can't be stressed enough, especially now, how imperative it is to read ALL material handed to you & be familiar with what you legal rights are.
Cindy

[TAWhatley]

Ok, lets give these links a try .. I think they are the ones you were wanting.

Terry Whatley

http://sprout.phpwebhosting.com/~fei.../newcastle.htm


http://sprout.phpwebhosting.com/~fei...tle_update.htm

[AZWhitefeather]

Thanks Terry,
I guess I needed to enter both addresses.
At any rate, I think the articles are very informative, although disturbing, in the respect that we really do need to know what we can & should do in the event someone comes knocking on our door demanding information about our birds.
Fellow members:
I would strongly suggest you read these two articles, not for the horrific events, rather for valuable information.
I pray I'm never faced with that type of situation, however, if I am, NOBODY will enter my house or touch my birds without a fight.
Thanks again Terry.
Cindy

[Mary L]

I have heard from several people that all the animals in Pratts feed store were destroyed! This is hearsay at this point but I suspect it is true. This is one of the busiest feed stores on the west side of the valley and the ramification is frightening. The only thing that we have going for us here in Arizona is our hot dry summers that create a hostile environment for the virus.

Mary L

[TAWhatley]

Oh Mary, Cindy, and anybody else in Arizona. It is starting for you. Be ever so careful with your biosecurity and do your best to keep your birds safe.

I am heartbroken that this virus is now going to effect you, and it will be in devastating ways for the bird owning community in your area.

Terry Whatley

[AZWhitefeather]

Good evening Mary & Terry,
Thanks for the updated information Mary. We realize at this point unless we see or hear it personally, we can only assume, however, that information, quite possibly, could have some merit to it.

According to this document the USDA has established that AZ has taken 'inadequate' measures to control or eradicate END, therefore we may be in for a real battle with these people regarding our domestic birds. http://agriculture.state.az.us/FR%20Doc%2003-3561.html

Well, Terry, I am now faced with the dilemma about the ferals. *Sigh*
Cindy

[TAWhatley]

Here is some more current info from the END-birds list:


Terry
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pratt's was a rumour. it's quite aways from the area under
investigation. what had been reported by someone living in the area
was there were fighting cocks around there and they hadn't found them
yet (as of sat). free ranging chickens are fairly common in that area
and it's a rural community.
i know of several buisnesses, not necessarly in that area - that have
been visited and some have taken swabs. a pro-active stance.
so far, i haven't heard anyone complain about the way they were
treated - but not much has happened yet. we shall see if this is 'it'
or is this the beginning...
i take it as good news they tested those in the area.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Feed store in question is Triple D Feed store. That is where
the chickens were from, they came from a chicken farm in Texas, both
the feed store and the farm in Texas are being investigated.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Mary L]

This is from our State Vet


Gary: as you know, we have been conducting surveillance both within the quarantined counties. In addition, we've been conducting surveillance outside of those areas. We've been conducting surveillance in Maricopa County for over a week, and are currently following up on a suspicious case in Maricopa County. We do not have results yet, and they may not be available for several days. We do not speculate about "possible" infections; only the laboratory can confirm whether it is END or not. In the meantime, we continue with intensive surveillance around that location, as well as conduct surveillance in other areas of the state. Any place where we submit samples is placed under strict quarantine.

Dr. Willer

[AZWhitefeather]

Thanks Mary,

OK, Does anyone know beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the backyard chickens in Maricopa County were infact destroyed?
If they were, my next question is, WHY would they have been euthanized if the test results to comfirm END are not even back yet? They are "following up on a suspicious case." Then by all means, quarantine, yes, euthanize, no.
Yesterday, I spoke with a representative from ADA, who 'confirmed' END in Maricopa County, however, in the same sentence stated the test results wouldn't be back until sometime this next week.
Why does this not make sense to me?
Cindy

[TAWhatley]

Hi Cindy,

Well, welcome to the not so wonderful world of END .. no, things don't make sense, haven't made sense, and probably aren't going to make sense. I'm so sorry another area has most likely been hit with the virus.

Though it is a very, very busy list most of the time, I really think it is in the best interests of any member from Arizona to join the END-birds list at Yahoogroups at least until we can get an END forum going here as Carl mentioned.

Terry Whatley