|
|
WHAT IS AVIAN INFLUENZA?
The Avian influenza (AI) is a respiratory disease caused by infection with influenza type A viruses. The natural hosts of AI are aquatic birds, primarily waterfowl.
AI viruses can infect a variety of domestic and wild birds. These include: chickens, turkeys, guinea fowl, quail, domestic ducks & geese, and pheasants. Ducks and geese may carry the virus but show no symptoms.
AI viruses are classified based on two groups of protein combination and by their pathogenicity (how easily a virus strain causes disease). There are 16 subtypes of the haemagglutinin protein (H) and 9 subtypes of the neuraminidase protein (N). The subtypes of concern are H5 and H7 as they are at great risk of mutating into highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Pathogenicity is determined by how infectious the strain is in chickens.
Low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) strains cause little to no disease in infected birds. HPAI is of great concern as it causes severe morbidity (illness) and high rates of death in sensitive species, particularly chickens.
AI viruses can infect a variety of domestic and wild birds. These include: chickens, turkeys, guinea fowl, quail, domestic ducks & geese, and pheasants. Ducks and geese may carry the virus but show no symptoms.
AI viruses are classified based on two groups of protein combination and by their pathogenicity (how easily a virus strain causes disease). There are 16 subtypes of the haemagglutinin protein (H) and 9 subtypes of the neuraminidase protein (N). The subtypes of concern are H5 and H7 as they are at great risk of mutating into highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Pathogenicity is determined by how infectious the strain is in chickens.
Low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) strains cause little to no disease in infected birds. HPAI is of great concern as it causes severe morbidity (illness) and high rates of death in sensitive species, particularly chickens.
WHAT IS THE CURRENT STRAIN IN THE 2022
UNITED STATES OUTBREAK?
The current HPAI strain detected in birds is EA H5 (2.3.4.4). EA stands for Eurasian lineage. H5 is the subtype of the haemagglutinin protein. The 2.3.4.4 references the Eurasian lineage H5 clade. Some results from wild birds and domestic turkeys show the N1 subtype of the neuraminidase protein. EA H5N1 is very infectious to both chickens and turkeys. It is also sometimes zoonotic to humans, but exposure must be prolonged to infected birds.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF HPAI IN BIRDS?
In chickens and turkeys (most impacted), symptoms include coughing, sneezing, fever, inappetence, uncoordinated movement, purple color, nasal discharge, and sudden death. Mortality is generally high, anywhere from 75-100%. Complete organ failure is common. Death generally occurs within 2-4 days of infection, depending on species.
WHAT BIO SECURITY MEASURES SHOULD I TAKE?
Determine who has access
Limit the number of people who have access to your domestic bird areas to those who need to be present to provide care. Cordon off access points to limit who can go near domestic birds. Think family, friends and neighbors too.
Clothes, Feet, Hands
HPAI can be transferred from boots/shoes, clothes, and hands. Check what your policy will be.
Clothes
Disposable coveralls
Clean, dedicated clothes or re-usable coveralls
Feet
Foot Baths: should be changed daily, or as needed. Organic matter reduces the effectiveness of disinfectants. Determine the safest disinfectant. Note how long boots should be dipped to be disinfected. Footbaths should be covered until used. Around 200 approved disinfectants work against HPAI on non-porous surfaces. Make note of how long a disinfectant needs on a hard non-porous surface for disinfection.
Shoe coverings are disposable plastic coverings that are applied over shoes or boots. They should cover the top and bottom of shoe/boots. They should not be used more than once.
Unique Boots/Shoes that are cleaned daily and are used only for the domestic bird areas.
Hands
Hand sanitizer
Access to sink and soap
Housing, Water, and Food
HPAI is transmitted by wild birds, particularly waterfowl on their migrations. Eliminate or limit exposure to wild birds by doing some or all of the following.
Move birds completely indoors, ensuring sufficient indoor space, cleanliness, and enrichment.
Enclose the outdoor run(s). The top needs to be solid but the sides can be mesh for airflow and enrichment.
At minimum, keep food and water covered. Store food in airtight covered containers. Place feeders and waterers under coverings.
Storage of Food and Bedding
Reduce or eliminate exposure of food/bedding to wild birds.
Move/store food/bedding in enclosed area inside or near domestic bird area
Move/store food/bedding in bird/rodent proof location
Cleaning and Disinfecting
Daily cleaning prevents build-up of organic material (which reduces efficacy of disinfecting) and provides a healthier environment. This is important if birds are moved completely indoors.
Cleaning Tools
Dedicated cleaning tools used only for domestic birds (clean and disinfect daily, if possible).
Clean & disinfect communal cleaning tools before use in domestic bird areas. Cleaning removes organic material, impurities, and dirt. Disinfecting reduces the number of bacterial or viral particles. To disinfect properly, you must clean. You can find a list of disinfectants effective against HPAI here.
Barns, Stalls, Perches, and Nest boxes
Daily removal of soiled materials
Disinfecting schedule
Co-habitation of species
Waterfowl are primary vectors for the transmission of HPAI to domestic birds. Domestic waterfowl can become infected with HPAI and show no symptoms.
House domestic waterfowl separately from other domestic birds.
Limit the number of people who have access to your domestic bird areas to those who need to be present to provide care. Cordon off access points to limit who can go near domestic birds. Think family, friends and neighbors too.
Clothes, Feet, Hands
HPAI can be transferred from boots/shoes, clothes, and hands. Check what your policy will be.
Clothes
Disposable coveralls
Clean, dedicated clothes or re-usable coveralls
Feet
Foot Baths: should be changed daily, or as needed. Organic matter reduces the effectiveness of disinfectants. Determine the safest disinfectant. Note how long boots should be dipped to be disinfected. Footbaths should be covered until used. Around 200 approved disinfectants work against HPAI on non-porous surfaces. Make note of how long a disinfectant needs on a hard non-porous surface for disinfection.
Shoe coverings are disposable plastic coverings that are applied over shoes or boots. They should cover the top and bottom of shoe/boots. They should not be used more than once.
Unique Boots/Shoes that are cleaned daily and are used only for the domestic bird areas.
Hands
Hand sanitizer
Access to sink and soap
Housing, Water, and Food
HPAI is transmitted by wild birds, particularly waterfowl on their migrations. Eliminate or limit exposure to wild birds by doing some or all of the following.
Move birds completely indoors, ensuring sufficient indoor space, cleanliness, and enrichment.
Enclose the outdoor run(s). The top needs to be solid but the sides can be mesh for airflow and enrichment.
At minimum, keep food and water covered. Store food in airtight covered containers. Place feeders and waterers under coverings.
Storage of Food and Bedding
Reduce or eliminate exposure of food/bedding to wild birds.
Move/store food/bedding in enclosed area inside or near domestic bird area
Move/store food/bedding in bird/rodent proof location
Cleaning and Disinfecting
Daily cleaning prevents build-up of organic material (which reduces efficacy of disinfecting) and provides a healthier environment. This is important if birds are moved completely indoors.
Cleaning Tools
Dedicated cleaning tools used only for domestic birds (clean and disinfect daily, if possible).
Clean & disinfect communal cleaning tools before use in domestic bird areas. Cleaning removes organic material, impurities, and dirt. Disinfecting reduces the number of bacterial or viral particles. To disinfect properly, you must clean. You can find a list of disinfectants effective against HPAI here.
Barns, Stalls, Perches, and Nest boxes
Daily removal of soiled materials
Disinfecting schedule
Co-habitation of species
Waterfowl are primary vectors for the transmission of HPAI to domestic birds. Domestic waterfowl can become infected with HPAI and show no symptoms.
House domestic waterfowl separately from other domestic birds.
Common Questions.....
Helpful websites....
|
Largest number of birds at one location yet.
DES MOINES, Iowa >> The confirmation of bird flu at another Iowa egg-laying farm will force the killing of more than 5 million chickens
|
How long does this
|
|
March 26th
|
Two new domestic cases in Minnesota. One commercial turkey farm in Meeker County. One backyard flock with chickens, ducks, and geese in Mower County. There are no wild birds in this map but there was also a new state added, with Pennsylvania seeing wild bird cases. Also, genomic sequencing has revealed that Eurasian H5N1 was introduced likely from Europe into the Atlantic Flyway. This is likely why we are seeing it heavily concentrated on the Atlantic Flyway. But as Flyways overlap, it has moved more deeply into the Mississippi and Central Flyways. |
Every wild bird encounter generally precedes domestic bird cases so really important to be on high alert and keep track.
|
March 24th
|
New cases: 4 turkey farms in South Dakota, 1 backyard flock in Cumberland County, Maine. Total killed is now over 14 million. |
March 23rd
Fulton County, Kentucky & Obion County, Tennessee
(no cases but near Fulton County) have lifted their quarantine/control zone after 30 days of no new cases.
Link To Article
I will note, though, that nearby Dyer County just reported 2 new wild bird cases of H5N1 in an American Green-winged teal and a mallard, both killed by hunters.
|
A LOT of newly reported wild bird cases. They tend to report these slower than the domestic cases.
|
