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Avian Influenza
September 1, Update on Avian Influenza
* USDA News Release: Confirmatory Tests Being Conducted on Maryland Wild Bird Fecal Samples
* Maryland Department of Agriculture Statement
There has been a great deal of interest in and concern about avian influenza in the news. The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA), is charged with safeguarding the health of horses, food producing animals, including poultry, and controlling any animal disease transmissible to humans. We have been watching the current situation overseas closely so that if there is any change in the status, we are prepared to respond in the most appropriate manner.
Current Status in Maryland and the United States
Additional Information on Avian Influenza
Animal Health Information
Wild and Migratory Bird Health
Maryland Regulations
Public Health Information
Food Safety
What to do with Sick or Dead Birds
Status
Currently, Maryland and the United States are free of the H5N1 strain of avian influenza (HPAI) found in some overseas countries. Actions are being taken to prevent and detect the introduction of any poultry disease, to maintain the health of those in contact with poultry, and to ensure food safety here. Poultry meat is safe to eat when handled and cooked properly.
MDA, along with partnering agencies and organizations, is working to maintain poultry health and prevent the introduction of avian influenza into poultry flocks.
The H5N1 strain of avian influenza currently causing illness and deaths in poultry and in some humans overseas has no history in the United States and is not here now. Measures are in place to prevent the spread of the virus into our country including the monitoring of wild birds, strict importation requirements, and increased surveillance at ports of entry. As of November 2005, H5N1 strain found overseas has not been found in any wild birds or domestic poultry in North America. See the USDA website for more information about prevention and surveillance efforts at the federal level.
At home in Maryland where poultry is the #1 agricultural sector, MDA is working with industry and government partners to maintain poultry health by testing birds going to fairs and shows, requiring testing of birds for interstate movement of poultry, and testing for avian influenza in commercial and backyard poultry flocks. Intense surveillance and preventative measures to prevent any poultry disease include: on-farm biosecurity measures by farmers; testing of all sick birds for avian influenza regardless of clinical signs; routine AI testing before processing birds; and encouraging immediate reporting of sick birds from private individuals. In addition, The Maryland Department of Natural Resources regularly tests waterfowl and water birds in the state and all tests for H5N1 have been negative.
On the Delmarva Peninsula, where the poultry industry is concentrated, even more aggressive surveillance and prevention measures are being taken. The Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc. has outlined those initiatives on their website.
Poultry farmers are taking action to protect their flocks.
Poultry farmers are working hard to protect their flocks. Some of the preventative steps they are taking are to allow only essential personnel on their farms and in their chicken houses, use disinfectants on shoes when entering and exiting poultry houses, and closely monitor the health of their flocks.
Farmers are the best protection for their animals. All poultry growers and owners of livestock, birds and other animals are encouraged to look for signs of illness in their animals, report sick animals, and practice biosecurity. Biosecurity means doing everything possible to protect animal health by preventing the transmission of disease. Taking common sense precautions to prevent disease from coming onto a farm is the cornerstone of keeping livestock and poultry healthy.
It is important to look for and report signs of illness immediately. Don’t wait. Call your private veterinarian, your local Maryland Cooperative Extension agent, the Maryland Department of Agriculture/State Veterinarian, the USDA Veterinary Services office (866-536-7593) or the USDA Area Veterinarian in Charge (410-349-9708).
Additional Information:
USDA Veterinary Services
MDA Biosecurity
Answers to Common Questions about Avian Influenza for Poultry Growers
Guidelines are in place to protect poultry workers and growers, veterinarians and others in close contact with poultry.
The Delmarva states and the poultry companies operating there are leading the nation in their unprecedented collaboration on practices and preparation to prevent avian influenza or any other disease from entering poultry flocks and in reducing any possible health risks to poultry workers and growers, veterinarians, and others who may come in close contact with poultry regularly or in a disease situation.
In response to identification of avian influenza in poultry in Delaware and on the Eastern Shore of Maryland in 2004, in addition to reports of human illness in other countries, a task force of poultry and human health experts mobilized to develop procedures based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommendations. The resulting document, Interim Guidance for Implementation of CDC and OSHA Avian Influenza Recommendations, provides practical guidance related to human AI infection prevention and control, including guidance related to training of workers, basic infection control, use of personal protective equipment, decontamination measures, vaccine and antiviral use, surveillance for illness, and appropriate evaluation of persons who become ill. For the maximum protection of workers, procedures follow the guidelines recommended by the CDC. Poultry companies will work in conjunction with state and local public health authorities and the medical departments of the poultry companies will closely monitor workers after their involvement with depopulation efforts for one week after last exposure as recommended by the CDC. Workers not employed or contracted by a particular poultry company will be monitored by the health department consistent with their residency.
Information for the general public, including those involved in the poultry industry, about protecting human health from seasonal influenza and avian influenza is available from the U.S. Government’s website, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
Poultry meat is a safe, wholesome food choice when handled and cooked properly.
Poultry processing is closely regulated by federal meat inspectors. In addition, poultry purchased in stores has been through a federal inspection process. Nevertheless, proper handling and cooking of poultry provides protection against viruses and bacteria, including Salmonella and E.coli. Avian influenza is caused by a virus. Like all types of viruses, it is destroyed by the heat of normal cooking. Safe food handling and preparation practices include:
• Washing hands with soap and water before and after handling food;
• Preventing cross-contamination by keeping raw meat, poultry, fish and their juices away from other foods;
• Washing hands, cutting board, knife, and counter tops with hot, soapy water after cutting raw meats;
• Sanitizing cutting boards by using a solution of 1 teaspoon chlorine bleach in 1 quart of water; and
• Using a food thermometer to ensure food has reached proper temperatures.
As on any perishable meat, fish or poultry, germs can be found on raw or undercooked chicken. Germs multiply rapidly at temperatures between 40 °F and 140 °F (out of refrigeration and before thorough cooking occurs). Freezing does not kill bacteria but they are destroyed by thorough cooking of any food to 160 °F. Using a food thermometer is the only sure way of knowing if your food has reached a high enough temperature to destroy foodborne pathogens including bacteria and viruses. The USDA Food Safety Inspection Service recommends cooking whole birds to 180 °F as measured in the thigh using a food thermometer. When cooking pieces, the breast should reach 170 °F internally. Drumsticks, thighs and wings should be cooked until they reach an internal temperature of 180 °F. Ground turkey and chicken should be cooked to 165° F. The minimum oven temperature to use when cooking poultry is 325 °F. Remember to wash hands with soap and warm water for 20 seconds before and after handling raw poultry.
Additional information about avian influenza
President George W. Bush has announced a National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza. Part of that announcement was the creation of the official U.S. government web site for information on pandemic flu and avian influenza, www.pandemicflu.gov.
Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr., has launched a web site, Maryland Flu Preparedness to answer your questions about the seasonal flu, pandemic flu and "bird flu."
Animal Health Information
U.S. Department of Agriculture
University of Maryland College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Avian Influenza Virus Program at the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine
UMD's "Prevention and Control of Avian Influenza in the U.S." website
Antimicrobial Products to Disinfect Poultry and Other Facilities Against Avian (Bird) Flu
Delmarva Poultry Industry's Poultry Grower Biosecurity Expectations and Guidelines
Wild and Migratory Bird Health
National Wildlife Health Center
What Hunters Should Know about Avian Influenza
Maryland Regulations
Requirements for Admission to Maryland Fairs & Shows
Requirements for Poultry Entering Maryland - Livestock and poultry imported into the State of Maryland shall meet the Maryland interstate regulations and be accompanied by an approved Certificate of Veterinary Inspection. Imported poultry and hatching eggs, except poultry imported for immediate slaughter must test negative for pullorum and typhoid within 90 days of importation or originate from U.S. Pullorum-Typhoid Clean or equivalent flock. On request from MDA, VS Form 9-3 or VS Form 9-2 or its equivalent shall accompany shipments.
Public Health Information
Center for Disease Control and Prevention
World Health Organization
Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
National Institute of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Food Safety
Avian Influenza: It's Not in Your Food
USDA Food Safety Inspection Service
What to do with Sick or Dead Birds
If a single dead resident bird such as a robin, crow, sparrow or cardinal is found, simply dispose of it by picking it up with a shovel or gloved hands, putting it in a plastic bag and throwing it away. Be sure to wash hands after any contact. There is no need to report those birds as they are not currently thought to play a significant role in the transmission of avian influenza.
The public should call USDA Wildlife Services at 1-877-463-6497 with any concerns about:
- a large scale die off of any wild birds;
- sick or dead migratory birds such as ducks, geese and other waterfowl; or
- sick or dead upland game birds such as pheasant, quail and grouse.
For concerns about poultry flocks experiencing increased sickness or death, producers of any size should contact their veterinarian or the Maryland Department of Agriculture through their Regional Animal Health Laboratory. Laboratory staff will assist producers as appropriate for the situation and can arrange for any necessary diagnostic testing.
4/11/06
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