Bird flu found on California farm spurs export bans

The disease known as bird flu has been found on a quail farm in California, prompting countries including Russia to ban poultry shipments from the state. Low-pathogenic avian influenza was detected in a quail flock at a farm in Stanislaus County, California, on April 18, said Steve Lyle, spokesman for the state’s Department of Food & Agriculture. The case was confirmed by the federal agriculture agency, and the farm has been quarantined, he said. “Veterinarians are humanely euthanizing birds at the farm as called for in established protocols, which also include epidemiological investigations, further testing of any at-risk flocks, and communication with other poultry farms to ensure that the disease is contained,” Lyle said today in an e-mail. Read More