I read that Bird Flu has been detected in Pendleton County and farms in the whole the Potomac Highlands are to be tested. Fortunately the strain of Bird Flu is not one that effects humans, but I have to disagree with Buddy Davidson of the WV Department of Agriculture when he said, "This should not effect the average person at all." If this is a major outbreak it could very well effect the average person economically.
The current treatment is to destroy the infected birds, and in the Potomac Highlands a large chunk of our economy is made up of the poultry industry. 25,000 turkeys are being destroyed now in Pendleton county as a result of contacting bird flu. That is going to have an impact on that farmer. If more bird flu is found, then the impact will spread to other farms, the workers at the processing plants, the trucking companies, and many businesses that depend on the on the industry for its livelihood.
A wise man once said plan for the worst, and hope for the best. I would like to know that the WV Department of Agriculture has a plan in effect if the outbreak is more wide spread. Can the state help decontaminate quickly and help get these farms up and running, so the economic impact is minimal to our area.
An outbreak like this emphasizes the need for a diverse economy, so all our eggs are not in one basket.
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