AVIAN FLU: Assistance Requested of North Bend Residents

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office (on behalf of Oregon Department of Agriculture and United States Department of Agriculture) requests the public’s assistance.  Currently, the situation is:

•A combined team from ODA and USDA have been in the area since February 16th monitoring bird populations (both wild and domestic).
•No new cases have been identified, but officials are still performing “active surveillance” in the Tumalo area and northern Bend.
•Officials are asking residents of northern Bend (generally north of Revere Ave.) that have backyard bird flocks to contact the surveillance team to ensure their birds are not infected (hotline number is listed below).

Backyard bird owners are encouraged to practice good biosecurity and to take steps that prevent contact between their birds and wild birds. They also should monitor their flock closely and report sick or dead birds to ODA at 1-800-347-7028. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is asking people to report wild bird deaths by calling 1-866-968-2600. People should avoid contact with sick or dead wild and domestic birds.