HEADS UP AVIAN INFLUENZA ALERT

ATTENTION ALL. I volunteer for an organization that cares for wildlife, including wild birds. Today the director has made us aware that she has received information that AVIAN INFLUENZA is in the US, and cases have been documented WITHIN 700 MILES OF OHIO. Considering the fact that this is migratory bird season, this is very bad news. Our flock has already been out free ranging, and I'm sure others are, as well. PLEASE KEEP EVERYONE SAFE BY REPORTING ANY SUSPECTED CASES OF BIRD FLU WITHIN YOUR FLOCK, OR UNUSUAL MULTIPLE DEATHS OF WILD BIRDS. This is serious, we have already been banned from having contact with the birds cared for by the organization, or even being allowed on the facility. I do not know how long the alert is supposed to last, but I would guess at least through mid to late May.

I know normally we are not supposed to bump up posts, but I think the Mods would understand if we keep this one bumped up, so please help!!!!

The H5N2 was first reported along the Pacific Flyway, then the Mississippi Flyway and now the Central Flyway.

10s of thousands of turkeys have already been culled.

http://www.worldpoultry.net/Home/Ge...5-04-03|Getting_to_grips_with_avian_influenza

I would not worry too much about human illness. This is not the same as the Asian avian flu that infected people. Even the strain that can infect people has a fairly low mortality rate compared to other diseases that are much more prevalent.

What is more of a concern is the high pathogenic variants of bird flu, especially since depopulation in a 3 km radius is the current protocol.

This outbreak has been going on for a while now, actually, but there is concern it will move into the Atlantic flyway since the Mississippi flyway over laps with it. Right now there have been no cases in the east, but a few scares.

ChickenCanoe said:

The H5N2 was first reported along the Pacific Flyway, then the Mississippi Flyway and now the Central Flyway.

10s of thousands of turkeys have already been culled.

http://www.worldpoultry.net/Home/Ge...5-04-03|Getting_to_grips_with_avian_influenza

Click to expand...

I wonder why it's only turkeys being affected? I've read an article that it could be spread more easily by feed trucks or in cases overseas, the feed itself. Byproducts in the feed.

Chickerdoodle13 said:

I would not worry too much about human illness. This is not the same as the Asian avian flu that infected people. Even the strain that can infect people has a fairly low mortality rate compared to other diseases that are much more prevalent.

What is more of a concern is the high pathogenic variants of bird flu, especially since depopulation in a 3 km radius is the current protocol.

This outbreak has been going on for a while now, actually, but there is concern it will move into the Atlantic flyway since the Mississippi flyway over laps with it. Right now there have been no cases in the east, but a few scares.

Click to expand...

I read our State Vet's information about it, which says there have been no documented cases of THIS strain, in people. He says to just watch your birds for signs, and, of course any unexplained deaths or unexplained illnesses. But, I think we are going to make some preparations, just in case. Our flock free ranges. I can't imagine keeping them all confined for two months or more, but I may try to make accommodations to our barn so they have to stay in for the month of May, anyway, which is the biggest migratory month. I think I read they would pick it up by foraging and eating feces from infected birds? It's not airborne, right? Or is it? Also the director of the nature organization said that peafowl are susceptible to getting it, even more than chickens. Oh, wonderful.

MrsBachbach said:

I wonder why it's only turkeys being affected? I've read an article that it could be spread more easily by feed trucks or in cases overseas, the feed itself. Byproducts in the feed.

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It doesn't just affect turkeys. All types of birds are affected. Turkeys just seem to be more vulnerable to this strain. When dead wild ducks are found they usually have been infected.
There have been several backyard chicken flocks that were culled as well.

http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-pers...s-3rd-minnesota-turkey-farm-h5n1-hits-romania

It is transmitted much like any flu virus. Airborne, but the virus can live outside the body for a couple days.

It was identified on the west coast in wild birds last December, and domesticated birds soon after.

The primary carrier is waterfowl because of their resistance to the disease. It is on some level self limiting in many other birds.

Turkeys are especially susceptible to the disease, but there is no reason to think the Midwestern outbreaks is nothing more than that is who became infected. It could have as easily been flocks of chickens.

I have never heard of eradication zones. Can someone provide information on where that has taken place? There are quarantine zones, and where flocks test positive they are rightly euthanized.

This is a new reality, but it isn't new. Low Path Avian Influenza has been here. Other continents have dealt with this particular strain to include Europe. It was only a matter of time before we had this experience. We will see this wax and wane. Some years will be bad years, and not so bad years. It will peak during the migratory seasons, and be most common along the major flyways.

It could be that at different times it may be prudent to confine the flock for a period of time.

It is no reason for panic, or emotional responses. However, we should hope that people take personal responsibility with their own flocks. Private owners can do our hobby a much harm as any.

All we can do is be aware and be responsible with our own individual flocks.

gjensen said:

... However, we should hope that people take personal responsibility with their own flocks. Private owners can do our hobby a much harm as any.

All we can do is be aware and be responsible with our own individual flocks.

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Absolutely.
We can be our own worst enemy.

I agree, I think it's just a good time to start getting prepared, and also for all of us on here to communicate as much as possible so that everyone knows what's going on. Especially since the news media hasn't said anything.

Knowledge is power.

gjensen said:

It is transmitted much like any flu virus. Airborne, but the virus can live outside the body for a couple days.

It was identified on the west coast in wild birds last December, and domesticated birds soon after.

The primary carrier is waterfowl because of their resistance to the disease. It is on some level self limiting in many other birds.

Turkeys are especially susceptible to the disease, but there is no reason to think the Midwestern outbreaks is nothing more than that is who became infected. It could have as easily been flocks of chickens.

I have never heard of eradication zones. Can someone provide information on where that has taken place? There are quarantine zones, and where flocks test positive they are rightly euthanized.

This is a new reality, but it isn't new. Low Path Avian Influenza has been here. Other continents have dealt with this particular strain to include Europe. It was only a matter of time before we had this experience. We will see this wax and wane. Some years will be bad years, and not so bad years. It will peak during the migratory seasons, and be most common along the major flyways.

 It could be that at different times it may be prudent to confine the flock for a period of time.

 It is no reason for panic, or emotional responses. However, we should hope that people take personal responsibility with their own flocks. Private owners can do our hobby a much harm as any.

 All we can do is be aware and be responsible with our own individual flocks.

Click to expand...

Avian influenza is generally a gastro intestinal virus in water birds, which means it is typically spread through contact with feces. In domestic poultry, it is spread through close contact and fomites (Objects contaminated by virus). It is an enveloped virus, so it does not survive that well in the environment (Most sources state 24-48 hours). However in water, as with wild waterfowl, it can persist for much longer. (http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/infectious-disease-topics/avian-influenza-bird-flu#overview&1-2)

There has never been a case in humans in the US, thankfully. AI has been around and media scares tend to play havoc in the industry. I think many people involved in the poultry industry are just hoping this will all blow over without the general media getting ahold of the story like the last time!

As for the depopulation zones, I will send an email to my advisor here are Cornell. She recently gave a talk here at an exotic animal symposium about the AI outbreak and this was in her slideshow. She's the vet in charge of the poultry extension office here and always has excellent info. I actually tried looking up the info on the USDA website, but they are pretty wishy washy on the whole protocol thing. As I understand it, it use to depend on whether the virus was high path or low path, but now they treat both of them the same way due to the viruses ability to mutate to high path in under a week. Several avian vets have said in their lectures that it is a 3 km depopulation zone with an additional 7 km surveillance zone for a total of a 10 km outbreak zone. I will check to be sure. I do know that there are several checks to be sure a test is truly a positive before culling takes place.

If I don't get back with the info right away, I apologize. I'm in the midst of a pretty busy block in my second year of vet school, but I should have some time this weekend to send an email!