Avian flu fears spark caution at upcoming Virginia county fairs [Video]

ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) — With county fair season approaching in Virginia, extra precautions are being urged to prevent the spread of avian flu.

The disease is deadly for poultry and has caused the loss of billions of dollars for poultry farmers around the country. Birds spread the disease, and now scientists have discovered that cattle can spread the disease, too, though symptoms in cattle are less severe and do not lead to death.

With that in mind, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services wants county fairs to implement USDA guidelines for animals shown at fairs this summer.

State government agencies release rules for new farm-use vehicle registration law

Here are a few of those guidelines for farmers and exhibitors:

Here are some of the guidelines for fairs:

So far, no cases of avian flu have been reported in Virginia cattle herds.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, …