Agricultural Support Role
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EPA is prepared to support the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in its efforts to aggressively deal with an avian flu virus outbreak in our poultry industry, and to support the Department of the Interior (DOI) in its efforts to respond to an outbreak in the wild bird populations.
If requested by USDA, EPA is prepared to provide advice and assistance in the areas of bird disposal and clean-up of contaminated agricultural facilities. EPA's pesticide registration program currently lists over 100 antimicrobial pesticide products that are registered for inactivation of avian flu A viruses. These products are typically used by the poultry industry to disinfect environmental surfaces in their poultry houses, farm premises and equipment. Although there are no antimicrobial products registered specifically against the H5N1 subtype of avian flu A virus, EPA believes that the currently registered avian flu A products will be effective against the H5N1 strain and other strains.
EPA is encouraging our state partners with delegated solid waste disposal authority to identify bird carcass disposal options and to resolve any issues associated with the potential use of those options. Moreover, if requested by USDA, EPA will provide technical assistance on disposal and decontamination issues during an avian flu outbreak.
- Fact Sheet on Antimicrobial Products to Disinfect Poultry and Other Facilities Against Avian (Bird) Flu
- Disposal of Domestic Birds Infected by Avian Influenza - An Overview of Considerations and Options (30 pp., 460 KB PDF; about PDF files)
- USDA Avian Flu Web site
- DOI Avian Flu Web site
- National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza: Implementation Plan
- Bird and Animal Issues - PandemicFlu.gov