Although the Washington State Department of Agriculture has lifted a quarantine that had been in place in a portion of Clallam County since Jan. 21 after an emergency rule was adopted to enact the quarantine and restrict the movement of eggs, poultry or poultry products in the zone, operators are urged to continue to watch for signs of disease.

WSDA has determined that the avian influenza detected in a backyard flock between Port Angeles and Sequim does not appear to have spread beyond the site.

Although avian flu quarantines have been lifted in parts of Washington, the rules remain in other counties.

To reach this conclusion, a team of veterinarians with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and WSDA visited nearly 2,000 locations in the quarantine area and tested samples from birds at 44 premises. All samples tested negative for avian influenza.

As a result of this action and lifting of the quarantine, there are no longer restrictions on the movement of poultry or poultry products within Clallam County.

Such restrictions remain in place in parts of Okanogan County, where two quarantines were established after two different flocks were found to be infected with the H5N2 avian influenza virus. Visit www.agr.wa.gov/LawsRules/Rulemaking for the complete rule and a map of these quarantine zones.

None of the viruses detected in Washington have been associated with human illnesses and there is no immediate public health concern. However, public health officials have contacted owners of identified infected flocks as a precaution.

Although the quarantine has been lifted, the risk of exposure to avian influenza still remains for poultry. Because migratory wild waterfowl populations can carry the disease, including the highly-pathogenic strains of avian influenza, WSDA continues to urge bird owners to protect their domestic birds from contact with wild waterfowl and remain vigilant in their biosecurity measures.

Avian influenza does not affect poultry meat or egg products, which remain safe to eat. As always, both wild and domestic poultry should be properly cooked.

Deaths or illness among domestic birds should be reported to the WSDA Avian Health Program at 1-800-606-3056. For wild birds, contact the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife at 1-800-606-8768.