What About New Mexico? Public Health's Paul Ettestad On the Big Bird Questions

Summary

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You know, right now the avian flu hasn't made it into the United States. The way that people think it might come is if migratory birds from Asia that share common breeding grounds up in Alaska may pass it to birds in North America and bring it down. There's been extensive surveillance of birds in Alaska--it's been going on for several years--and they haven't found it there yet. So it hasn't made it into any of the wild bird population of the United States. If it does, there is always the risk some of those migratory birds will land in areas where there is domestic poultry that's outside and potentially pass it on that way. So there is the potential in small backyard poultry areas, especially if they're near areas where there are waterfowl, because it seems to be mostly in ducks and geese. Then there would be the potential to pass it on that way. When you look at large commercial poultry operations most of those are housed in big buildings where it's not possible for the wild birds to get in and mix.

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What About New Mexico? Public Health's Paul Ettestad On the Big Bird Questions

As the state veterinarian for the New Mexico Department of Health, what is your role when it comes to the bird flu risk for New Mexico?

My main role is risk communication. I try to educate people to avoid public hysteria and educate people so they know what they can do to reduc...

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