State officials have ordered a ban on moving poultry in three Wisconsin counties.

State Veterinarian Dr. Paul McGraw ordered the ban Friday on moving poultry to shows, exhibitions, and swap meets in Jefferson, Juneau, and Barron counties – all counties where the H5N2 avian influenza virus was recently found. Additionally, anyone owning a flock that is enrolled in the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP), a flock that qualifies as an affiliate flock under the NPIP, or a flock that is enrolled as a Wisconsin tested flock or associate flock are also prohibited from movement to shows, exhibitions or swap meets in the three counties.

Wisconsin has three confirmed cases of avian influenza in the state since the virus was first found in the Midwest in March. Commercial poultry producers, backyard flock owners and poultry exhibitioners are being told to restrict poultry exposure to wild birds. Producers should also wash hands before and after handling poultry, and use dedicated clothing and boots when working with poultry, and when cleaning and disinfecting cages and equipment.

WSAU