high path avian influenza in the usa

[WLLady]

From the avian flu facebook site-this was posted....news from today. Unfortunately it looks like we will all have to be ultra vigilent this spring again....please note this is NOT the same avian flu virus as last years...new strain. Sigh

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USDA Confirms Highly Pathogenic H7N8 Avian Influenza in a Commercial Turkey Flock in Dubois County, IndianaUSDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service sent this notice at 01/15/2016 11:05 AM EST

USDA Confirms Highly Pathogenic H7N8 Avian Influenza in a Commercial Turkey Flock in Dubois County, Indiana

WASHINGTON, January 15, 2016 -- The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic H7N8 avian influenza (HPAI) in a commercial turkey flock in Dubois County, Indiana. This is a different strain of HPAI than the strains that caused the 2015 outbreak.  There are no known cases of H7N8 infections in humans.  As a reminder, the proper handling and cooking of poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165 ˚F kills bacteria and viruses, including HPAI.

Samples from the turkey flock, which experienced increased mortality, were tested at the Indiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory at Purdue University, which is a part of USDA’s National Animal Health Laboratory Network, and confirmed by USDA this morning. APHIS is working closely with the Indiana State Board of Animal Health on a joint incident response. State officials quarantined the affected premises and depopulation of birds on the premises has already begun. Depopulation prevents the spread of the disease. Birds from the flock will not enter the food system.

As part of existing avian influenza response plans, Federal and State partners are working jointly on additional surveillance and testing in the nearby area. The rapid testing and response in this incident is the result of months of planning with local, state, federal and industry partners to ensure the most efficient and effective coordination. Since the previous HPAI detections in 2015, APHIS and its state and industry partners have learned valuable lessons to help implement stronger preparedness and response capabilities. In September, APHIS published a HPAI Fall Preparedness and Response Plan that captures the results of this planning effort, organizing information on preparatory activities, policy decisions and updated strategy documents.

The United States has the strongest AI surveillance program in the world, and USDA is working with its partners to actively look for the disease in commercial poultry operations, live bird markets and in migratory wild bird populations.

Anyone involved with poultry production, from the small backyard to the large commercial producer, should review their biosecurity activities to assure the health of their birds. To facilitate such a review, a biosecurity self-assessment and educational materials can be found at http://www.uspoultry.org/animal_husbandry/intro.cfm

In addition to practicing good biosecurity, all bird owners should prevent contact between their birds and wild birds and report sick birds or unusual bird deaths to State/Federal officials, either through their state veterinarian or through USDA’s toll-free number at 1-866-536-7593.  Additional information on biosecurity for backyard flocks can be found at http://healthybirds.aphis.usda.gov.

Additional background

Avian influenza (AI) is caused by an influenza type A virus which can infect poultry (such as chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, domestic ducks, geese and guinea fowl) and is carried by free flying waterfowl such as ducks, geese and shorebirds. AI viruses are classified by a combination of two groups of proteins: hemagglutinin or “H” proteins, of which there are 16 (H1–H16), and neuraminidase or “N” proteins, of which there are 9 (N1–N9). Many different combinations of “H” and “N” proteins are possible. Each combination is considered a different subtype, and can be further broken down into different strains. AI viruses are further classified by their pathogenicity (low or high)— the ability of a particular virus strain to produce disease in domestic chickens

[Robbie]

Oh no not again. :-(

[Ontario Chick]

Darn, I just felt like we have been able to breathe again and not worry until spring, that is not a good news.

[madison174]

Saw this on facebook...not sure my heart can handle another season of this.

[muffin57]

Bummer! Let's keep our fingers crossed and hope and pray that it doesn't come here.

[BobG]

Last year was your first exposure to Avian flu and you all made it thru , just remember your bio security and put it into place . My birds here in BC have been in lockdown since November . Having been thru this 4 times now I take no chances . You should be safe until spring migration .

[Featherduster]

They just confirmed 9 farms tested positive within the quarantine area.

[Poultryprincess]

So allowing chickens to "FREE RANGE" must be stopped for the rest of the year?
Or is it just til migration has stopped? ( meaning from now until spring? )

BobG - when you say your birds have been in "lockdown", you mean NO outside time?
Or do you mean there is no visitors allowed in your coop & pens?

[JimW]

PP,

Lockdown usually means no outside time/free ranging for the birds, plus no visitors in coop or pens. Many people never let visitors in the coop or pens, especially other poultry keepers, for year round biosecurity.

Most of the migration is over in Ontario now (strange winter so many birds were flying late). The next big risk time for Ontario will be were the birds return in the spring.

[Home Grown Poultry]

...or in covered pens where wild birds cant get in. well I expected this to happen which fricken sucks.... good luck all!