By BEV BERENS

Michigan Correspondent

STONE MOUNTAIN, Ga. — Avian influenza (AI) detected earlier this year in poultry flocks located in the Pacific Flyway has broadened its reach, showing up in at least three confirmed cases in the Mississippi Flyway, the heart of the nation’s poultry-producing region.

One turkey flock in Minnesota and two in Arkansas have been added to the number of confirmed cases since the beginning of March. Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) cases had been confirmed earlier this year in California, Oregon, Washington and Idaho. Two virus strains, H5N2 and H5N8, are the culprits.

According to Tom Super, vice president of communications for the National Chicken Council, “Being diligent in detecting and eliminating avian influenza is an ongoing job, and not something we react to as new cases arise. We treat it as a threat 365 days per year. Obviously, we are redoubling our efforts since the cases have shown up in turkey flocks in the Mississippi Flyway.”

Toby Moore, USA Poultry and Egg Export Council (USAPEEC) vice president of communications, added, “There are zero implications for human health. There’s never been a human infection in this country and very few, if any, in the developed world.”

He also noted the only AI human infections were associated with the H5N1 and H7N9 virus strains and occurred in developing countries under unsanitary conditions.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) concur there is no immediate public health concerns in regard to the virus. Both H5N2 and H5N8 viruses have been found in other parts of the world and have not caused any human infection.

Moore said, “Even though our system is set up to prevent any entry into the food supply of infected poultry meat, in the unlikely event that this did occur, the virus is killed during proper cooking.”

The latest confirmed cases in Missouri involve two separate turkey flocks totaling more than 51,000 birds in Jasper and Moniteau counties.  The Jasper County case has been confirmed with the H5N2 strain. Turkeys appear to be slightly more susceptible to the two identified strains.

The USDA and the poultry industry have sophisticated techniques in place to identify and quickly eradicate AI. “The USDA and APHIS are doing a fantastic job containing the outbreak,” said Super. “So far the disease has not transmitted from commercial flock to commercial flock.”

Each new case has been traced to seasonal migratory birds, and in this case are vectors for the disease. Moore stressed the current round of AI is not endemic, nor cause for panic among poultry producers. Cases of AI are extremely rare, with the last U.S. recorded case occurring in a commercial flock in Texas in 2004.

Confirmed cases are quarantined; all birds are euthanized and disposed followed by rigorous sanitation of facilities and premises. Infected birds do not enter the food chain.

Export worries

A number of countries which import U.S. poultry products have halted the entry of meat and egg products, and the list grows daily. China was the first to ban imports, on Feb. 17. USAPEEC and USDA are working to counteract the global response.

Jim Sumner, president of the USAPEEC, said “We are liaising with our government and foreign governments in an attempt to mitigate the impact of trade restrictions, explaining that there are no risks of contamination from U.S. poultry.”

The organization co-hosted a trilateral conference in Mexico last week, which included representatives from Canada. “As a result, Mexico is in the process of reducing its trade restrictions from state to county levels, thus opening up most of the production from the four affected states,” Sumner said.

According to Sumner, the United States supplies 90 percent of the world’s poultry breeding stock. When import restrictions include breeding stock, it affects the ability of poultry industries in countries that rely on U.S. stock to maintain their flocks.

“If poultry industries cannot maintain their supplies of genetics, the result could well be a global shortage of poultry meat and eggs that could last for years,” he said.

For more information about the ongoing AI disease incident, visit the APHIS website at http://1.usa.gov/1MDt5ql and even more information about AI can be found on the USDA’s site at http://1. usa.gov/18t1E5p

 

 

 

SIDEBAR:  

 

USPoultry offers program to aid in avian biosecurity

TUCKER, Ga. — With recent avian influenza (AI) news announcements, the U.S. Poultry & Egg Assoc. (USPoultry) is making available its “Infectious Disease Risk Management: Practical Biosecurity Resources for Commercial Poultry Producers” program.

The program was created to aid in developing more effective biosecurity practices and is designed to be used as a program development tool for personnel training and teaching.

“The avian influenza virus may be carried by migratory birds, and there is a growing incidence being identified along the North American continental flyways.

“The need to have an effective biosecurity program in place is essential and should be implemented immediately,” said Dr. John Glisson, vice president of research programs for USPoultry.

The biosecurity program was developed under the guidance of industry and academia members. The program is interactive, user-friendly and includes educational videos and content, including an introduction video. The program is a multipurpose, reference, employee training and teaching resource tool.

This program is available to USPoultry members free of charge. To view all of the educational programs the association offers, visit www.us poultry.org