The latest round of avian influenza has skipped Maryland so far, and officials of the state fair in Timonium aim to keep it that way.
The current version of “bird flu,” as the virus is known, attacks lactating dairy cows, nearly 20 of which will be out-of-state bovines on exhibit at the three-weekend fair, which opens Thursday. By federal mandate, those milk cows must run a gauntlet of tests, to assure their clean health, seven days before their arrival in Maryland Aug. 29.
Moreover, “[Maryland Department of Agriculture] veterinarians will be here [at the fairgrounds] to inspect the animals as they come in, and to check their papers,” said Andy Cashman, the fair’s general manager.
The virus was first reported in March, in a cow in Texas, and has since spread to livestock in 13 states, including Ohio and North Carolina, those nearest Maryland. Most animals recover.
As of Aug.16, four people in the United States — farm workers in Texas, Colorado and Michigan — have contracted the illness from cows and recovered, according to the Centers for Disease Control, while another nine have tested positive after contact with poultry, all since April 1. Symptoms are generally flu-like and may include eye redness, runny nose, cough and sore throat. More severe cases are marked by a high fever and shortness of breath.
Bird flu presents little threat to the general public, the CDC has said. However, the agency recommends some people at higher risk of developing serious flu complications should limit contact with animals that could carry influenza viruses.
“Avian Influenza (AI) will not pose any concerns for fairgoers,” Cassie Shirk, assistant secretary for Marketing, Animal Industries and Consumer Sciences for the Maryland Department of Agriculture, wrote in an email to The Sun. “Fairgoers are encouraged to practice safe hygiene, including washing hands regularly. We recommend changing shoes and clothes after visiting the fair, especially if you have farm animals at home.”
In past years, other threads of the virus have sickened chickens and cancelled poultry exhibits at the fair, said Cashman.
“I’ve been here more than 30 years and I’ve never heard of cattle getting the flu, until this happened,” he said. “If the public doesn’t handle the cattle, or drink these cows’ [raw] milk, there shouldn’t be any risk at all. And if you do touch the animals, wash your hands; there are several [sinks] around the barns to do so.”