Kankakee Times

The Illinois State Fair has cancelled poultry shows because of rising cases of avian influenza.

“Illinois Department of Agriculture cancels live poultry shows at Illinois State Fair,” Rep. Thomas Bennett wrote on Facebook.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention wrote that although avian influenza doesn’t usually affect humans, rare contact with saliva, mucous or feces from infected birds could occur.

The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) said on Wednesday that junior and open live shows at the Illinois State Fair would be canceled for 2022 to protect from highly pathogenic avian influenza.

Illinois State Fair junior poultry exhibitors will continue to have an opportunity to receive recognition and premiums through a virtual poster competition.

Rules and entry requirements are available at illinoisstatefair.info. To allow junior poultry exhibitors to adapt to the new format the Illinois State Fair will extend the entry deadline to July 15.

NPR Illinois reported the threat of the Influenza A virus has lessened.

“HPAI has affected over 40 million birds in 36 states,” Dr. Mark Ernst, IDOA state veterinarian, said to NPR. “(The severity) has started to drop some. We’re getting into the warmer summer months, so we are getting fewer detections. Although in Colorado and some of the western states they are still picking up some infections, in our area the number of sick bird calls we are receiving has dropped off significantly.”

The Illinois State Fair is scheduled for Aug. 11-21.

The virus can mutate. Ernst urges the community to stay responsible to stop its spread.

“The Department works year-round to promote biosecurity for all livestock producers. With the current situation, it remains important for all of us to be responsible and protect against the spread of avian influenza during the Illinois State Fair and county fairs,” Ernst, a Washington, Illinois local and graduate of the University of Illinois School of Veterinary Medicine, told NPR.

On April 5, IDOA issued emergency rules prohibiting exhibits and sales of poultry and poultry products at swap meets, exhibitions, flea markets and auction markets to prevent the spread of HPAI, Farm Week Now reported. Those rules were in place for up to 150 days. They were reviewed every 45 days and the situation was re-evaluated.