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NDA | Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Continues To Affect Birds in Nevada
Over the course of the coming months, those interested in the issue areas related to agriculture and natural resources will be working to become acquainted with the members of these committees as well as the rest of the elected representatives in the Legislature.
Nevada Farm Bureau Is Seeking
Passage Of Water Legislation:
We indicated earlier that there will be a number of bills related to water issues. One of those bills will hopefully be heard by the Nevada Senate Natural Resources Committee as introduction requested by Nevada Farm Bureau. During the most recent NFB annual meeting, voting delegates adopted policy which states…
We believe that Nevada Law regarding Critical Management Areas (NRS 534.037) should be amended to include additional requirements for criteria to be used by the State Engineer in evaluating when determining whether to approve a groundwater management plan, submitted by the majority of holders of permits or certificates to appropriate water in a basin that has been designated as a Critical Management Area. Criteria to be added to the list provided in NRS 534.037 sub 2. shall include: • The principles of the Prior
Appropriation Doctrine and not allowing for senior water right owners to be negatively affected by junior water right owners through implementation of the submitted plan; and, • Upholding Nevada’s Constitutional protections for unreasonable seizure of private property. (Article 1 Section 18)” Implementing this policy is the basis for the water bill that NFB has requested. We are working through Senator Goicoechea for the introduction and are anticipating the measure will be first surfaced in the Senate Natural Resources committee.
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza continues to affect birds in Nevada
Bird owners encouraged to remain diligent in bird health safety measures Additional cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) have
been confirmed throughout Nevada in domestic and wild birds. The Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) has quarantined properties with confirmed cases of HPAI in domestic birds and surrounding areas will be monitored to protect further spread of the disease. As of Nov. 10, 2022, one premises in Nevada remains under quarantine in Nye County.
“We understand the concern and the NDA and Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) continue to monitor positive cases across the state,” said NDA interim state veterinarian Dr. JJ Goicoechea.
Avian influenza viruses can infect domestic birds (such as chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, domestic ducks, geese, and guinea fowl) and wild birds. HPAI is extremely infectious and can spread rapidly. HPAI strains can circulate freely in wild birds without sign of illness, but can infect domestic birds causing severe and fatal illness. Some species of wild birds, such as raptors, also experience high mortality rates. “It’s important that all bird owners remain diligent in good bird health safety practices to protect their flocks and mitigate spread,” said Dr. Goicoechea. HPAI has been detected in states throughout the U.S. To protect bird health, the NDA issued biosecurity recommendations in April of 2022 as detections were made in bordering states. Additional detections are a reminder to owners of domestic birds to practice bird health safety measures and report illnesses. To mitigate impacts of the disease, it is important that bird owners isolate and report any sick birds to their veterinarian and the NDA Animal Disease Lab at 775-353-3709 or entrypermits@agri.nv.gov. Sick or deceased birds should only be handled with proper personal protective equipment, including the use of gloves and bagging and sealing deceased birds. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) maintains that HPAI poses a low risk for human infection. Infected birds and products from infected flocks will not enter the food system. As always, the proper handling and cooking of all poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165 ˚F is recommended as a general food safety precaution. At this time, the NDA has eased restrictions for fairs, bird shows and events; however, maintaining proper health safety measures before, during and after events are critical to managing risk. Proper bird health safety measures are outlined on the NDA website and include:
• Wash hands before and after coming in contact with birds.
• Limit the number of people that come in contact with your flock to those necessary for their care.
• Isolate new adult poultry coming into a flock for a minimum of 30 days. • Use personal protective equipment such as shoe covers, gloves, hair and clothing covers. • Clean and disinfect equipment before and after each use.
• Do not share tools or supplies between flocks. • Flocks should be housed in enclosures that prevent any exposure to wild birds or waterfowl, such as barns or similar covered, secure areas.
• Avoid attracting wild birds and waterfowl by securing feed, not using wild bird feeders on or near the premises and remove pooling or ponding water. • Quarantine sick birds or bag and seal deceased birds immediately and report to your veterinarian and the NDA Animal Disease
Lab at 775-353-3709 or entrypermits@agri. nv.gov. • Waterfowl hunters are encouraged to take precautions from the NDOW listed here:
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) - NDOW
For more information on avian influenza, safety measures and the Nevada Department of Agriculture's recommendation regarding bird shows, events and fairs, visit our website at
