Animal Health Division watches for signs of animal diseases at fairs, auction markets, and whenever animals enter or leave the state. The division can halt animal transportation through embargo and quarantine to limit the spread of disease. It has a variety of resources to eradicate disease outbreaks and decontaminate affected farms or other premises. Its associated laboratories allow quick turnaround on samples, including those taken from every commercial poultry flock before it leaves the farm. The work of the division over the decades has resulted in West Virginia having disease-free status for many troublesome poultry and livestock diseases.
