A glance at poultry restrictions across state fairs in the South due to bird flu
Here is a breakdown of what Southern state fairs are doing to keep the bird flu at bay. Numbers show the states' national ranking in poultry production last year and the number of broiler chickens. States using more than one strategy, such as flu tests and waterfowl bans, are listed under the more restrictive category.
BETTER BIOSECURITY MEASURES
— Georgia, 1, 1.3 billion.
— Alabama, 2, 1.1 billion.
— Virginia, 10, 262 million; also requires farmers to isolate birds that went to a poultry show for at least 2 weeks afterward.
QUARANTINED? STAY AT HOME
— Florida, 18, 66.7 million; producers can't bring poultry from quarantined areas into the state.
IN-STATE? THAT'S GREAT
— Arkansas, 3, 969.8 million; no waterfowl exhibits, and all poultry going to the Arkansas-Oklahoma State Fair must have certified avian flu test.
— Kentucky, 7, 308 million; no poultry sales allowed at fair.
— Missouri, 8, 288.5 million.
GET TESTED
— Texas, 6, 591.8 million
— Oklahoma, 13, 205.3 million
— Tennessee, 15, 180.6 million; any bird that gets sick within 14 days before scheduled travel disqualifies the entire flock, out-of-state birds and hatching eggs must be from certified clean flocks.
DUCKS AND GEESE KEEP OUT
— Mississippi, 5, 727.2 million; 4-H poultry exhibits to consist of photo boards and record books, but one bird can be brought in to demonstrate showmanship.
— Delaware, 11; 244.1 million
A SELECT FEW
— South Carolina, 12, 232.5 million; only doves and pigeons may be shown.
NO POULTRY SHOWS
— North Carolina, 4, 795.2 million.
— Maryland, 9, 287.8 million.
— Pennsylvania, 14, 181.3 million.
— West Virginia, 16, 95.3 million.