Access to birds restricted

HANKINSON, N.D. (AP)--Turkey producers in North Dakota say they are monitoring the developments involving bird flu in other countries.

The H5N1 strain of bird flu has devastated poultry stocks and killed 60 people in Asia. It also has spread to birds in Europe. Scientists say the strain is difficult for humans to contract but they worry the strain could trigger a pandemic by mutating into a form easily transmitted to humans.

"Naturally it's a serious concern insofar as being a threat," said Dave Muehler, owner of Muehler Turkey Farm at Hankinson. "We have to always keep it in mind."

The types of bird flu in this country are not spread to humans, and even though American birds become ill, the poultry meat supply is still safe to eat, he said.

Muehler said birds in other countries may be more susceptible because they are allowed to run at large and mingle with other animals and people.

"That allows much greater opportunity for them to contract this disease," he said.

At the Hankinson turkey farm, Muehler said he takes a commonsense approach to ensure the health of his turkeys.

"We don't allow people to just come and go on the farm," he said. Visitors are asked whether they have been on any livestock farms in the recent past.

Besides monitoring traffic, turkey farm workers follow recommended sanitizing and disinfecting procedures using a three-step cleaning process.

When young turkeys leave the brooder barn, the facility is sprayed down from top to bottom. The old bedding is removed and floors are hand swept, Muehler said.

The federal Agriculture Department and the National Turkey Federation monitor the operations, he said.

"The industry nationwide is very aware of this and is taking steps to safeguard producers," he said.

At Hometown Turkey Farms of Wyndmere, owner Joe Wittenburg said the procedures are the same as for preventing any other disease that may infect the birds. They include monitoring traffic--because people may bring in disease--in the barns and keeping the facilities clean.

"At this point we're watching it," Wittenburg said of the bird flu, "but we aren't too concerned that the birds will become infected."