State Bans Poultry At Swap Meets

The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection has instituted a ban on bringing poultry to swap meets in Wisconsin in an effort to further contain the spread of the deadly bird flu known as H5N2.

Darlene Konkle, DATCP’s assistant state veterinarian, said poultry can still be shown at county and state fairs but only if owners certify their animals aren’t sick.

“The other so-called unaffiliated events are less tightly regulated. There’s a little more chance for transmission of disease, we feel, than at the county, district or state fair,” said Konkle.

Nearly 2 million chickens and turkeys had to be euthanized in three counties this spring due to the bird flu. Officials expect the warm weather to keep the virus at bay this summer.