Wright County officials have yet to receive official confirmation from the USDA or IDALS

PRESS RELEASE                                    No. 4

5-5-15

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For More Information Contact: Stan Watne, Wright County Board of Supervisors

Wright County continues to monitor the widespread outbreaks of HPAI throughout the state and continues their proactive approach.

Wright County officials are still only aware of one facility that has had a presumptive positive report, but they have yet to receive official confirmation from the USDA or IDALS.

Wright County Engineer Adam Clemons said his request to the Iowa DOT for dust control on the shoulders of state highways near the facilities in Wright County was completed this afternoon. “We appreciate the cooperation and quick response of the Iowa DOT to our request for dust control. The contractor the county has hired will be in the area tomorrow applying dust control to the shoulders of the county blacktop roads near the local facilities as well,” explained Clemons.

It is important to note that avian influenza does not pose a threat to human health.  Poultry products are also safe for the public to consume. 

The poultry industry is significant to the economy of Wright County many of our residents work in industries or organizations that are directly or indirectly affiliated with poultry production.

It is not definitive how the virus is spreading and Wright County has taken a proactive approach in an effort to help prevent the spread of the disease.

For more information on the HPAI outbreak, you can go the USDA website:  www.usda.gov, or to the IDALS website:  http://www.iowaagriculture.gov/AvianInfluenza.asp.

For questions regarding avian influenza, you may call the Iowa Concern Hotline at 1-800-447-1985.