AVIAN INFLUENZA UPDATE

BY DR. TONY FRAZIER

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) continues to be in the news and across the landscape. And unless you have chosen to just not pay any attention to the news to reduce stress in your life, you are familiar with what has become the costliest animal disease response in the history of the USDA. Nearly 59 million birds in 47 states have been lost due to the disease.

By the time you read this article, the spring migration from South America through North America back to Canada will hopefully be winding down. That just means that the migratory waterfowl carrying the virus will have moved on. The issue that remains for us is the unique nature of this virus to have set up shop of sorts in several of our resident wildlife species. Now the virus has been found in not only resident waterfowl, but also in other wild birds such as black vultures, red tailed hawks, red shouldered hawks and bald eagles. Each of these native wildlife species have been found positive in sick or dead birds.

The fact that our native birds may be carrying the virus makes biosecurity even more important. It seems that the agriculture community was credited with being the first to use the word back in the 1980s to describe the sum of risk management practices in the defense of biological threats. Since the early 2000s, biosecurity has become a very important area in animal agriculture. With growing threats of foreign animal diseases and even the threat of deliberate introduction of diseases by terrorists, biosecurity is a must if you are an animal agriculture producer.

While many generic biosecurity plans are available online, here are some basic principles that should be included in a biosecurity plan:

• Allow only essential personnel to access your property and your birds. Disinfect any vehicles that enter your farm.

• Don’t lend or borrow equipment from other farms. Bring only cleaned and disinfected items into your bird area.

• Avoid contact with other poultry. If you cannot avoid contact, change clothes and shoes before working with your own birds.

• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before entering your bird area.

• Use footbaths when entering or leaving your bird housing (change disinfectant frequently)— or wear disposable boot covers.

• Keep poultry separate from wild birds. Don’t let them share water sources or have access to common areas frequented by wild birds.

• Eliminate standing water on your farm and clean up feed spills to avoid attracting wild birds.

If you are a non-commercial or backyard producer, it is important that you are aware of the signs of illness that may be associated with HPAI. Decreased water consumption, sudden increase in bird deaths in the flock, and respiratory problems such as sneezing, gasping for breath, coughing and nasal discharge. Other signs may include a drop in egg production, or soft- or thin-shelled or misshapen eggs. Purple wattles, combs and legs are common with HPAI. It is also common to see swollen heads, necks and eyes as well as ruffled feathers, lethargy and listlessness. These signs are not exclusive to HPAI but should not be ignored if they are present in your flock.

Alabama has had one positive case in backyard birds. We have had no positive cases in the commercial poultry industry in our state at the time I am writing this. That could all change at the drop of a hat though.

It is important to know that the virus is not affecting humans in the United States. Back in the early 2000s, a survey conducted on consumers revealed that 41% of the respondents would not eat poultry products if we had a case of HPAI. I believe we have done a decent job in educating the consumer concerning this disease. Birds that show any signs of the disease will never make it into the food chain. It is still always a good practice to cook poultry to 165 degrees, which will kill all pathogens.

As I mentioned in my previous article in this publication, Alabama has had one positive case in backyard birds. We have had no positive cases in the commercial poultry industry in our state at the time I am writing this. That could all change at the drop of a hat though.

We continue to iron out the wrinkles in our response plan in case we are hit by the disease like some other states have been. We are planning several exercises around proper depopulation and disposal of infected birds in partnership with USDA, Alabama Poultry and Egg Association, Alabama Cooperative Extension and the poultry industry. We have been fortunate so far and I think it is easier to prepare for the storm when the sun is shining and the wind isn’t blowing.

If you suspect that you may have any signs of HPAI in your flock here is a list of important contacts:

• Report to the ADAI Poultry section 334-240-7255, ext. 4 or any of our diagnostic labs

• Thompson Bishop Sparks State Diagnostic Laboratory Auburn, AL (334) 844-4987

• Boaz Diagnostic Laboratory Boaz, AL (256) 593-2995

• Hanceville Diagnostic Laboratory Hanceville, AL (256) 352-8036

• Bryan Taylor Diagnostic Laboratory Elba, AL (334) 897-6340

We will continue to keep you informed concerning this disease.