What is a sentinel chicken program?

A sentinel chicken program is primarily designed to monitor the presence of vector-borne viruses within a specific area by utilizing chickens as biological indicators. In this program, chickens are placed in strategic locations where they are exposed to potential mosquito vectors. Since these birds can become infected with certain viruses, testing their blood allows public health officials to detect the activity of these viruses in the environment, often before human cases occur. This early warning system is crucial in managing and controlling outbreaks, particularly for diseases like West Nile virus and St. Louis encephalitis.

The other options do not accurately represent the purpose of a sentinel chicken program. The vaccination program for chickens is focused on preventing diseases in poultry rather than testing for viruses. Monitoring soil health addresses agricultural concerns and is unrelated to vector monitoring. Breeding programs for disease-resilient chickens focus on improving poultry genetics for agriculture rather than serving as indicators of public health risks related to vector-borne pathogens.