SPRINGFIELD — With cases of avian influenza affecting poultry flocks in neighboring Indiana and Kentucky, Illinois State Veterinarian Dr. Mark Ernst is advising producers to keep a close eye on their birds and bring them indoors if possible.

“As the state veterinarian and the official state agency of the NPIP (National Poultry Improvement Plan), I strongly encourage all producers to move all birds indoors to prevent contact with wild birds or their droppings,” said Ernst, in a letter distributed to producers and agricultural media. “This will help you do your part to protect the health of your birds and the industry. Additionally, I encourage you to review your biosecurity plan and implement the highest level of security possible. You need to ensure that feed and water cannot be contaminated by wild birds.”

Ernst asked Illinois poultry producers to report any increase in mortality or abnormal clinical signs to the state veterinarian’s office or the USDA. “It has been noticed that a significant decrease in water consumption has been an early indicator in the affected flocks, so we encourage you to monitor this as well,” he said.

Contacted by Farm World, Ernst noted that detections of the highly pathogenic poultry disease were confirmed in European nations, Canada and Nova Scotia in the fall of 2021. The reports served to put state veterinarians on alert for the disease crossing U.S. borders via wild birds migrating the Atlantic flyway. 

“Inspectors ended up finding the disease in hunter-harvested ducks, which isn’t totally unexpected because waterfowl tend to be a reservoir for the virus,” Ernst said. “This gave us an idea of the potential for exposure.” 

With confirmed detections in turkeys in Indiana and broilers in Kentucky, Ernst felt it was time to remind Illinois poultry producers to step up their efforts at prevention and detection of bird flu.

“It’s a good time for (producers and processors) to take a fresh look at their biosecurity plans, especially with the larger commercial flocks. Most commercial producers have company veterinarians they work with that are NPIP members. Smaller producers with backyard flocks are more of a concern, as their biosecurity tends to be lesser than the larger operations. But they can talk to their veterinarians, they can talk to Extension, and we have even had some that have contacted (the state veterinarian’s office) to have that discussion in a generalized fashion. But, they will need to get with a veterinarian or an Extension office to schedule an on-site visit to develop or fine tune a biosecurity plan,” Ernst said.

An unchecked outbreak of avian influenza could negatively impact the nation’s poultry export industry, perhaps resulting in an embargo of U.S. poultry exports, Ernst cautioned. “As with the last large outbreak, you’ll have restricted movements within the state and the country as well — especially in the control or affected area. Movements of birds and products would be by permit only. And when you take flocks out of production, you run the risk of decreasing the supply of eggs, broilers or turkeys in the country,” said Ernst. 

In addition to a slower intake of water, symptoms of avian influenza include reduced feed intake, general lethargy, respiratory distress, swelling around the eyes and an increase in mortality, according to Ernst. “It’s an overwhelming respiratory infection that tends to move rapidly and remarkably. You can see a flock of birds as healthy in the evening and come out in the morning to find quite a few of them dead. From the time they start showing signs, it doesn’t take long until mortality,” he said. 

Illinois poultry producers and processors are required to report cases of avian influenza to the Illinois Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Animal Health and Welfare, which is responsible for the detection and eradication of certain animal diseases. The phone number to report cases is (217) 782-4944.