The Iowa Department of Agriculture is adding another state to its bird ban to prevent poultry infected with Exotic Newcastle Disease from entering the state. Veterinarian Patrick Webb says the state is now adding Arizona to California and Nevada on the banned list.He says they’ve told these states that Iowa won’t allow any movement of birds or their products from any areas of these states which they believe are infected. Webb says the disease is highly contagious and usually wipes out entire flocks that’ve been infected. He says they’re trying to keep Iowa clean.He says Iowa doesn’t have the disease, and we don’t want it. Webb says animal producers are being very good about trying to stop the disease from spreading, but he says there’s an illegal element they’re worried about. He says the disease started in California fighting birds, and the people who raise the illegal birds are trying to get them away from the areas where the disease has been found. While Iowa’s birds may fill the gap of those lost to disease, Webb says he fears a bigger impact with U-S trading partners. Webb says some are already refusing to take any U-S poultry, and he says he fears more trading partners will say that if the disease spreads into other states. Webb says the Ag Department has sent out notices to Iowa producers to help them identify the disease and let them know what to do if they spot its symptoms.
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