By TIM THORNBERRY
Kentucky Correspondent NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Just a few weeks after the discovery of avian influenza in Kentucky, Tennessee officials announced its presence on two poultry farms in Giles and Lincoln counties.
The low-pathogenic H7 strain was detected through routine inspections, first in Giles County on April 24, according to Casey Mahoney of the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA). The confirmation came with testing by USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, which indicated an exposure to the H7 strain.
The second discovery, in Lincoln County, came after preliminary testing was conducted on May 1 at a facility that raised chickens for Tyson Foods, Inc. Both flocks were breeder hens.
Ag officials also said the farms and other premises with birds within a three-mile radius were placed under quarantine as a precaution and in accordance with USDA protocol. Most of the surveillance activities have been completed and test results from other area commercial and backyard poultry flocks to date have been negative.
“We’re working closely with our state, federal and industry partners and I have every confidence that the actions we are taking will protect animal health and our state’s poultry industry,” said state Agriculture Commissioner Ken Givens. “It’s through this partnership that we were able to find and quickly move to address the situation.”
Tom Womack, director of TDA public affairs, said it is important to note that no risk to human health of the food chain exists due to the findings.
“Test results did not indicate an active infection, only the presence of antibodies for the virus. This is consistent with the fact that the birds were not exhibiting signs of illness and there was no unusual bird losses associated with this exposure,” he said.
“It’s important for the public to know and understand that this was a low-pathogenic strain of avian influenza, not the high-pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza associated with outbreaks in other countries. Nor is it related in any way to the H1N1 so-called ‘swine flu.’ This is not a human health issue, nor is it a food safety issue.
“In both cases, the flocks were breeder birds, not broilers, and did not enter the food supply. Avian influenza is not transmitted through poultry meat and eggs, which are safe to consume with regular proper handling and preparation,” he said.
Womack also said there is no apparent connection between the two affected farms, which are approximately 50 miles apart. The farms have different contract growers that supply different companies.
All 30,000 suspect birds have been humanely destroyed at the discretion of both companies.
“All actions have been precautionary and in accordance with USDA protocols for disease surveillance and reporting,” Womack said. “With the satisfactory completion of area surveillance, farm cleanup and decontamination and epidemiological activities, we expect that restrictions on the movement of birds in the affected areas can be lifted and that the growers can resume production in the near future.”
Poultry in Tennessee The poultry business in Tennessee is big business, second only to cattle as the state’s leading agricultural commodity, according to information from TDA. In fact, poultry represents approximately $454 million dollars annually in farm income. TDA reports “in 2007, Tennessee farmers produced 207 million broilers – more than one billion pounds of chicken.”
Most of the production is of broilers, which are chickens used for meat consumption. The state is home to about 2,000 commercial poultry farms, with each processing and breeding facility being supported by a number of farmers who raise chickens.
According to the TDA, Tennessee has been proactive in keeping the poultry and human population safe from disease. Those efforts include the expansion of bird flu monitoring efforts by the TDA, “among non-commercial producers to include voluntary testing.
Department animal health technicians provide information and outreach materials on sound biosecurity – practices that provide protection from a variety of potential diseases through physical barriers and good management – to breeders and exhibitors of exotic and specialty birds at fairs and other events,” said the TDA.
For more details on avian influenza in poultry, visit www.TN.gov/agriculture/ regulatory/birdflu.html |
