More from the Pandemic Report

I couldn't find a way to fit this into my previous post, but those who've been reading here and elsewhere about the USDA's National Animal Identification System will see why this section of the flu report caught my eye:

Educating Bird Owners

We will expand our multilevel outreach and education campaign called “Biosecurity for the Birds” to provide disease and biosecurity information to poultry producers, especially those with “backyard" production. The program provides guidance to bird owners and producers on preventing introduction of disease and mitigating spread of disease should it be introduced, and encourages producers to report sickbirds, there by increasing surveillance opportunities for avian influenza.

You can check out the NAIS website and call your state Dept.s of Wildlife and Agriculture to learn what "guidance," "encouraged reporting" and "increased surveillance" means for you and your backyard animals.