RALEIGH, NC – The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services announced on Tuesday it will hold five regional meetings to inform backyard poultry owners about the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus that is expected to be introduced in the state this fall.

Veterinarians with NCDA&CS and the N.C. State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences will give an overview of the U.S. outbreak and how North Carolina is planning to protect commercial poultry and small flocks. They will also answer questions about the registry for backyard flock owners and provide more information about how backyard and small-flock owners can protect their flocks from potential infection.

The meetings are as follows:

Tuesday, September 1: Guilford County Center, 3309 Burlington Road, Greensboro
-- Contact: Karen Neill, 336-641-2400
Wednesday, September 2: Union County Center, 3230 Presson Road, Monroe
-- Contact: Kelly Liddington, 704-283-2801
Friday, September 4: Nash County Center, 1006 Eastern Ave., Nashville
-- Contact: Charlie Tyson, 252-459-9810
Tuesday, September 8: Duplin County Center, 165 Agriculture Dr., Kenansville
-- Contact: Amanda Hatcher, 910-296-2143
Friday, September 11: Burke County Center, 130 Ammons Dr., Morganton
-- Contact: Spring Williams, 828-439-4460

The meetings will be held in from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. Pre-registration is available at www.ncagr.gov/avianflu