Testing Detects More Cases Of H5N1 Avian Influenza

Two more cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza have been discovered on Delmarva.

According to the Delaware Department of Agriculture, federal lab testing confirmed the presence of H5N1 in a pullet operation in New Castle County and in a broiler flock in Queen Anne’s County. Cases had been confirmed previously at poultry farms in New Castle County and Cecil County. Birds from the affected flocks will not enter the food system. The affected flocks have been or are being depopulated.
Surveillance sampling and testing have been expanded to better protect the Delmarva poultry industry.
The virus can spread in several ways, and growers and backyard chicken farmers should consider a number of bio-security practices, according to DDOA:

• Clean and disinfect vehicles.  Don’t walk through or drive trucks, tractors, or equipment in areas where waterfowl or other wildlife feces may be. If you can’t avoid this, clean your shoes, vehicle, and equipment thoroughly to prevent bringing disease agents back to your flock. This is especially important when visiting with farmers or those who hunt wildfowl, such as when gathering at a local coffee shop, restaurant, or gas station. 
• Remove loose feed.  Don’t give wild birds, rodents, and insects a free lunch! Remove spilled or uneaten feed immediately and ensure feed storage units are secure and free of holes. Wild birds can carry HPAI.
• Keep visitors to a minimum. Only allow those people who take care of your poultry to come in contact with your birds, including family and friends. Make sure everyone who has contact with your flock follows biosecurity principles.
• Wash your hands before and after coming in contact with live poultry.  Wash with soap and water (always your first choice). If using a hand sanitizer, remove manure, feathers, and other materials from your hands because disinfectants will not penetrate organic matter or caked-on dirt.
• Provide disposable boot covers (preferred) or disinfectant footbaths for anyone having contact with your flock. If using a footbath, be sure to remove all droppings, mud, or debris from boots and shoes using a long-handled scrub brush BEFORE stepping into the disinfectant footbath, and always keep it clean. 
• Change clothes before entering poultry areas and before exiting the property. 
  When handling birds, visitors should wear protective outer garments or disposable coveralls, boots, and headgear. Shower out and change clothes when leaving the facility.  
• Clean and disinfect tools or equipment before moving them to a new poultry facility. Before allowing vehicles, trucks, tractors, or tools and equipment (e.g., egg flats and cases) that have come in contact with birds or their droppings to exit the property, ensure they are cleaned and disinfected to prevent contaminated equipment from transporting disease. Do not move or reuse items that cannot be cleaned and disinfected, such as cardboard egg flats.
• Look for signs of illness. Know the warning signs of infectious bird diseases.

If You Have Sick Poultry or Experience Increased Mortality in Your Flock:

• Commercial poultry producers should follow the procedures of contacting the company they grow for when they notice signs of disease.
• Backyard flock owners who notice any of the signs of HPAI in their flock should contact:
  • In Delaware, email the Delaware Poultry Health Hotline at poultry.health@delaware.gov or call 302-698-4507 and provide your contact information, size of flock, location, and concerns.
  • In Maryland, report any unusual or sudden increases in sick birds to the MDA Animal Health Program at 410-841-5810. Commercial chicken growers and backyard flock owners can email questions about the outbreak to MD.Birdflu@maryland.gov.

According to the Delmarva Chicken Association, this is the first time avian influenza has been detected in a Delmarva broiler farm since 2004. The previous cases had involved layers, not broilers.

“While Delmarva’s chicken community has worked hard to prevent avian influenza from affecting their flocks and was able to keep the 2015 U.S. HPAI outbreak from impacting us, the ease with which this disease can spread from bird to bird means HPAI poses a significant risk to broiler chickens,” DCA Executive Director Holly Porter said. “Delmarva Chicken Association and the chicken industry is working closely with USDA and state authorities as they quarantine, depopulate, disinfect and test these affected farms. These chickens will not enter the food system, and properly cooked chicken remains completely safe to eat.”

More information from the DCA:

DCA has provided biosecurity tips and best practices to its members in coordination with state departments of agriculture and the USDA’s Defend the Flock program, and is holding virtual meetings to better inform chicken growers about the recent HPAI detections and what steps are taken on a farm when avian influenza is found.

DCA is reminding all members to follow these biosecurity best practices:

• Clean and disinfect transportation. Don’t walk through or drive trucks, tractors, or equipment in areas where waterfowl or other wildlife feces may be. If you can’t avoid this, clean your shoes, vehicle, and/or equipment thoroughly to prevent bringing disease agents back to your flock. This is especially important when visiting with farmers or those who hunt wild fowl such as when gathering at a local coffee shop, restaurant, or gas station. 
• Remove spilled or uneaten feed right away, and make sure feed storage units are secure and free of holes. Wild birds can carry HPAI.
• Keep visitors to a minimum. Only allow those people who take care of your poultry to come in contact with your birds; this includes family and friends. Make sure everyone who has contact with your flock follows biosecurity principles.
• Wash your hands with soap and water before and after coming in contact with live poultry. If using a hand sanitizer, first remove manure, feathers, and other materials from your hands because disinfectants will not penetrate organic matter or caked-on dirt.
• Provide disposable boot covers (preferred) and/or disinfectant footbaths for anyone having contact with your flock. The best approach is to use a different pair of footwear or disposable foot coverings for each chicken house on the farm. If using a footbath, be sure to remove all droppings, mud or debris from boots and shoes using a long-handled scrub brush before stepping into the disinfectant footbath, and always keep it clean.
• Change clothes before entering poultry areas and before exiting the property. Visitors should wear protective outer garments or disposable coveralls, boots, and headgear when handling birds, and shower and/or change clothes when leaving the facility. 
• Clean and disinfect tools or equipment before moving them to a new poultry facility. Before allowing vehicles, trucks, tractors, or tools and equipment to exit the property, make sure they are cleaned and disinfected to prevent contaminated equipment from transporting disease. Do not move or reuse items that cannot be cleaned and disinfected.
• Look for signs of illness. Know the warning signs of infectious bird diseases.

What to do if you see signs of disease in your flock
Commercial poultry producers should follow the procedures of contacting the company they grow for when they notice signs of disease.

Backyard flock owners who notice any of the signs of HPAI in their flock should contact:

• In Delaware, email the Delaware Poultry Health Hotline at poultry.health@delaware.gov or call 302-698-4507 and provide your contact information, size of flock, location, and concerns.
• In Maryland, report any unusual or sudden increases in sick birds to the MDA Animal Health Program at 410-841-5810. Commercial chicken growers and backyard flock owners can email questions about the outbreak to MD.Birdflu@maryland.gov.
• In Virginia, report sick birds or unusual bird deaths to the State Veterinarian’s Office at 804.692.0601 or vastatevet@vdacs.virginia.gov or through the USDA’s toll-free number, 866-536-7593.