The Illinois Department of Agriculture has enacted a 30-day moratorium on the display and sale of poultry at various venues, including swap meets, exhibitions, flea markets, and auction sites. This precautionary measure aims to mitigate the risk of spreading avian influenza, which has been identified in both commercial and backyard poultry flocks across Illinois.

Poultry owners and caretakers are urged to report any unusual behaviors in their birds, such as increased mortality rates, reduced water intake, decreased egg output, or any respiratory symptoms. While instances of avian flu have also been reported in dairy cattle, there have been no confirmed cases in Illinois thus far.