THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE IS EXTENDING EMERGENCY RULES TO FURTHER PROTECT POULTRY FROM AVIAN INFLUEZNA.
STATE VETERINARIAN DOCTOR MARK ERNST SAYS THE RULES PROHIBITING THE SALE OR EXHIBITION OF POULTRY WILL CONTINUE AND BE RE-EVALUATED IN 45 DAYS.
THE AVIAN FLU IS STILL A CONCERN SAYS ERNST, WITH THE VIRUS STILL DETECTED IN ILLINOIS JUST THIS WEEK.
ADDITIONALLY, ILLINOIS 4-H IS MOVING ALL COUNTY FAIR POULTRY SHOWS TO A VIRTUAL FORMAT WHILE THE EMERGENCY RULES ARE IN PLACE. A DECISION ABOUT SHOWS AT THE STATE FAIR IS EXPECTED BY MID-JUNE.