Protect your flocks from Avian Influenza by using basic biosecurity measures. Birds contract the disease through contact with infected wild birds or contaminated clothing and equipment. Infected birds shed the virus in saliva, feces and other body secretions.

Avian Influenza (bird flu) is a highly contagious viral disease of domestic and wild birds including chickens, turkeys, ducks and geese. There are many different types of Avian Influenza viruses. They range from low pathogenicity strains, which cause no or mild clinical disease to highly pathogenic strains that kill many birds. Current concerns about Avian Influenza are caused by the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of the virus that first appeared in Hong Kong in 1997.

Avian Influenza is primarily a disease of birds, but cases have occurred in people in close contact with infected poultry. Although the virus spreads rapidly from bird to bird, it has so far shown limited ability to spread between people. Birds contract the disease through contact with infected wild birds or contaminated clothing and equipment. Infected birds shed the virus in saliva, feces and other body secretions.

Endemic Areas

Currently H5N1 is only widespread in Asia. Occasional outbreaks of both low pathogenicity and high pathogenicity strains of Avian Influenza occur in the United States and Canada and many other parts of the world. Movement of virus strains around the world generally follows the migratory paths of wild waterfowl host species.

Clinical Signs

• Sudden death
• Swelling (edema) of head, eyelids, combs and wattles
• Nasal discharge
• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Watery diarrhea
• Lethargy
• Anorexia (poor appetite)
• Decreased egg production

Treatment

There is no specific treatment for Avian Influenza. Up to 100 percent of poultry that contract a highly pathogenic strain of the virus may die. Any bird suspected of having Avian Influenza should be reported to the State Veterinarians or USDA Area Veterinarian in Charge immediately.

Prevention

It is difficult to predict when or if the H5N1 strain of Avian Influenza will enter the United States. The most likely method for the infection to arrive is along the seasonal migratory paths of wildlife hosts, mostly water birds such as swans and geese. If it does enter the United States, basic farm biosecurity measures will be put into place to prevent spread of the disease. These measures include preventing contact of domestic poultry and their feed with wild birds--particularly near ponds and waterways where wildfowl congregate--and placing incoming birds under quarantine until their health status is known.

Public Health

Although the H5N1 strain of Avian Influenza primarily affects birds, it can occasionally infect people who have close contact with infected birds or contaminated surfaces. Less than 200 people in Europe and Asia have died from the H5N1 strain of the virus.

As with all influenza viruses, the H5N1 strain of Avian Influenza has the ability to mutate. Although Avian Influenza currently has limited ability to spread between people, a mutation in the virus may make this possible. If this were to occur, the world may be faced with a pandemic of human Avian Influenza cases, so-called Pandemic Flu. It is impossible to know if or when this mutation will occur.

Officials from the CDC, World Health Organization, USDA and World Organization for Animal Health, among others, continuously monitor the status of the H5N1 strain of Avian Influenza to detect its entry into the United States.

Links

CDC-Avian Influenza Current Situation
CDC-Avian Influenza
Department of Health and Human Services-Avian Influenza
EDEN-Avian Influenza Issues Page
OIE-Avian Influenza
World Health Organization-Avian Influenza
CDC-Avian Influenza Vaccines