HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 061 Draft 01 2024-2026J+SyiOF k1y
COUNTY OF HAWAI`I STATE OF HAWAI`I
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RESOLUTION NO. G:1 25
A RESOLUTION URGING THE STATE OF HAWAI`I DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE AND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO CONSULT WITH LOCAL
POULTRY FARMERS TO DEVELOP AN AVIAN FLU RESPONSE PLAN AND TO
CONSIDER ALTERNATIVES TO DEPOPULATION AS A RESPONSE STRATEGY.
WHEREAS, highly pathogenic avian influenza ("HPAI"), commonly referred to as
"avian flu" or "bird flu," was first detected in the State of Hawaii on Oahu on November 15cn
2024, and later on Hawaii Island on December 2°a, 2024;
WHEREAS, HPAI primarily infects wild and domestic birds, but has a higher mortality
rate in certain species, like chickens, compared to others; and
WHEREAS, the primary method of HPAI control in the United States is depopulation,
also known as mass culling, in which all poultry collocated with an infected bird, including
healthy birds and birds that have recovered from a previous infection, are killed, typically by
shutting down ventilation and adding heat, causing death by heat exhaustion, or by suffocation
with firefighting foam or carbon dioxide gas; and
WHEREAS, many veterinarians and animal welfare experts have called these culling
practices inhumane and encouraged the use of more humane methods to combat HPAI, including
quarantining infected flocks, vaccination, and breeding disease -resistant poultry; and
WHEREAS, domestic poultry is an important aspect of Hawai`i's food security and
sustainability needs and, in some cases, can serve other ecological functions, such as insect and
weed control; and
WHEREAS, mass culling will negatively impact some of the State's bird populations
more than others, notably ducks, which cannot be repopulated after mass culling because the
importation of ducklings and duck eggs is prohibited; and
WHEREAS, the United States Department of Agriculture ("USDA") allows states to
consider their unique environmental and ecological characteristics in the development of an
HPAI response plan; and
WHEREAS, an HPAI response plan should be developed and put in place as soon as
possible to mitigate the risks associated with infection of wild and domestic birds and potential
spread to humans; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAI`I that this
body hereby urges the State of Hawaii Department of Agriculture and Department of Health to
work with local poultry farmers of all sizes from across the State to develop a comprehensive
HPAI response plan, including preventative measures, testing and monitoring protocols, and
public outreach and information.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the State's HPAI response plan should promote the
practice of more humane alternatives to mass culling, such as quarantine and vaccination when
authorized by the USDA.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the County Clerk shall transmit a copy of this
resolution to the Honorable Joshua B. Green, M.D., Governor of Hawai`i; the Honorable Ronald
D. Kouchi, President of the Hawai`i Senate; the Honorable Nadine K.Nakamura, Speaker of the
Hawai`i House of Representatives; Sharon K. Hurd, Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture;
Kenneth S. Fink, M.D., Director of Health; and the Honorable C. Kimo Alameda, Mayor of the
County of Hawai`i.
Dated at Hilo , Hawai`i, this 5th day of February , 2025 .
INTRODUCED BY:
NjeA'L)/KA^^ —
COUNCIL ME R, COUNTY OF HAWAI`I
COUNTY COUNCIL ROLL CALL VOTE
County of Hawai`i AYES NOES ABS EX
Hilo, Hawai`i GALIMBA X
HUSTACE X
I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by INABA X
the vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the KAGIWADA X
County of Hawaii on February 5, 2025
KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER X
KIERKIEWICZ X
ATTEST: KIMBALL X
ONISHI X
VILLEGAS X
9 0 0 0
Reference: C-90/GOEAC-14
TY CLERK CHAIRPERSON&PRESIDING OFFICER RESOLUTION NO. GI- 25
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