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Rep. Doug Collins (R-GA) News Release
U.S. House of Representatives Documents
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Yesterday, Congressman Doug Collins sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack asking that the USDA ensure all viable options are available to state, local, and industry stakeholders to prevent the spread of bird flu if highly pathogenic avian influenza hits Georgia.
"The USDA has been a great partner to the poultry industry in Georgia in preparing for a potential outbreak of avian influenza. However, I urge them to consider providing additional flexibility to Georgia's poultry industry to ensure that they can quickly depopulate an infected house should it become necessary. It is critical that rapid response measures are available when it is imperative that the flock be depopulated as quickly as possible to prevent the spread of the disease to other flocks. Ventilation shutdown requires no equipment, and can be implemented in a matter of minutes. Right now, the USDA approves ventilation shutdown for use on a case-by-case basis, but during an outbreak of such a serious disease, hours matter. If those on the ground had the authority to make the call on which method is best in their situation, an outbreak could be contained."
The text of the letter is below:
The Honorable Tom Vilsack
Secretary, United States Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Avenue SW
Washington, D.C. 20250
Dear Secretary Vilsack,
As you know, earlier this year the United States experienced the worst animal disease outbreak in its history. The outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) led to deaths of more than 48...