Animal health specialists with Oklahoma State University Extension caution poultry producers to protect their flocks after highly pathogenic avian influenza was confirmed in a wild swan and a resident Canada goose in Tulsa County last week. Signs and symptoms include: • Coughing and sneezing • Nasal discharge • Diarrhea • Difficulty breathing • Extreme depression • Lack of energy • Decrease in feed or water intake • Swelling or purple discoloration of head, eyelids, comb, wattle and legs • Decrease in egg production or misshapen eggs • Sudden unexplained death • Quietness among the flock Preventative biosecurity measures can help protect a flock and include: • Restrict visitor access to birds • Prevent contact with wild birds (especially waterfowl) • Refrain from visiting other poultry operation locations • Set aside clothing and footwear to wear only when working with birds • Disinfect footwear before entering a barn or coop • Wash hands with soap and water before and after handling birds • Reduce availability of food, water and any potential nesting areas for wild birds • Fix holes in roofs, screens and walls of poultry barns or coops • Report sick or dead birds to a veterinarian • Do not share equipment with other bird owners • Birds that have been near other poultry should be quarantined from the rest of the flock for at least 30 days Find more information about HPAI and resources ➡️ okla.st/4fqmvrP (fb)

Training tomorrow’s heroes! 🧰 Deborah Sharp, Murray County OSU Extension director, led Oklahoma’s first MyPI (My Preparedness Initiative) Camp in Sulphur, where teens gained real-world emergency skills like first aid, fire safety, and search and rescue. For their final project, each teen created emergency kits for their family and six additional households, equipping a total of 182 Oklahoma families with emergency supplies. This is just one example of OSU Extension’s commitment to building safer communities and future leaders. (fb)