Avian Influenza east coast

[KCNC06]

Question for everyone. From somewhere I read that if there is a confirmed poultry case within a certain radius of you; regardless of whether your poultry has it, they will depopulate. If that is the case, it seems like it doesn't matter what precautions I put in place, they won't matter if the guy down the road isn't doesn't do the same. Am I understanding this correctly?

I've heard this as well. That all birds within that radius, whether they have the virus or not, will be destroyed when "they" come in to cleanse the area. Apparently ducks (domestic ducks other than muscovy ducks) aren't likely to be symptomatic even if they do contract it but get destroyed anyway because they can spread it still. I'm not really clear on how that works.
What I don't understand is, if you're keeping your birds indoors and practicing good hygiene between where your birds are and the outside world, shouldn't this reduce risk of transmission? I have what I consider to be two separate flocks. My outside (normal) birds and my special indoor ducks. I have two imprinted ducks that have been with me inside since they hatched and another that stayed inside after she recovered from lead poisoning. We also have 3 more ducks that hatched in late October so they stayed inside for the winter and I decided they're staying inside a little longer due to this AI situation. But if I'm keeping them inside to keep them safe from potential exposure to wild birds and the virus outside, shouldn't that also keep them safe from whoever comes to "cleanse" an area if the virus is detected somewhere? I'd be concerned about getting arrested if someone tried to take these girls.

 

[KCNC06]

i'm in Western NC and haven't a clue as to how I could contain my chickens ducks and geese. their "pen" and i use the word loosely is over half acre fenced.

I'm glad I'm not the only one with this issue! They're fenced, so technically not free-ranging anymore. Not like they used to at least. They used to go wherever they wanted. But we've been expanding their fenced area since the more space they have, the less likely they are to injure each other. More space to run away when someone's acting like a jerk. The fenced area for our birds is significantly bigger than the fenced yard we have for our dogs. But our dogs are both old and would much rather be inside loafing about on a bed or couch so they don't really care that their yard is small.

 

[KCNC06]

I subscribed to get email updates whenever there's an update in my state from the state board of animal health.

https://www.in.gov/boah/species-information/avianbirds/highly-pathogenic-avian-influenza/

Near the top in red it says "subscribe for email/text updates" and it seems to be better than waiting to see a news article about it. The email I just got a few min ago with another update also explains what they are doing in the affected area.

Maybe you can let us know if they give more details about what they're doing outside of the turkey farms? It looks like it's two farms now?

I'm now curious about what, if any, impact this might have on Metzer's new hatchery that's opening near Memphis. If you're not supposed to bring birds into, or out of, an area that has the virus it seems a little risky for anyone on the east coast to be ordering ducklings this spring.

 

[indianaducks]

Maybe you can let us know if they give more details about what they're doing outside of the turkey farms? It looks like it's two farms now?

I'm now curious about what, if any, impact this might have on Metzer's new hatchery that's opening near Memphis. If you're not supposed to bring birds into, or out of, an area that has the virus it seems a little risky for anyone on the east coast to be ordering ducklings this spring.

Here's part of the email. I imagine anyone can subscribe to the emails if you want the information. I just happened upon it when I was looking for more information about the issue last week.

This is from Indiana's Board of Animal Health.

​

​ Situation Update #3​ As of: February 15, 2022

​

​ State of Indiana Response to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Dubois County​ Note: New information is highlighted in BOLD ITALIC type.​

CURRENT SITUATION

Laboratory testing of a commercial flock of young turkeys in Dubois County has identified the H5 avian influenza virus. This is considered a presumptive-positive case and samples are being verified at the USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) in Iowa. This is the second farm (known as Dubois2) in Indiana to be diagnosed with avian influenza. Pending test results should indicate if the virus is the same as the index farm diagnosed on Feb. 9 and if the virus is highly pathogenic.

The close proximity of the second farm to the index site (Dubois1) means the established 10-km control area will remain the same.

The Dubois2 flock was tested after the owner noticed water consumption by the birds dropped dramatically (a clinical sign of avian influenza). The farm, already under quarantine, houses 26,473 birds.

The control area circle is primarily in Dubois County and a portion of northern Spencer County. All commercial poultry flocks (18 total) within the control area are under quarantine for the duration of this event (i.e., until the control area is lifted).

Poultry farms in the control area have completed the first round of surveillance testing for HPAI to ensure the virus is not present in the area beyond the index farm. Testing of the control area farms will continue on a weekly basis.

BOAH has established a surveillance zone around the control area to allow for additional monitoring for the presence of the virus in commercial poultry in the area. The zone extends an additional 10 km beyond the control area boundary. Commercial poultry operations in the surveillance zone are not under quarantine, but will be tested regularly (at less-frequent intervals) until the control area is lifted.

BOAH staff continue to reach out to known hobby/backyard poultry owners in the control area to schedule testing of birds to ensure the virus is not present. To date, 25 hobby flocks have been sampled; laboratory testing is not yet complete. Hobby poultry owners in Southern Dubois County should contact BOAH at 317-544-2387 to schedule testing at no charge. BOAH staff have begun testing small poultry flocks in the control area and will continue to make appointments to make site visits.

USDA-Wildlife Services staff in Indiana is beginning wild bird surveillance efforts in the area.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Is this area close to you @indianaducks?

 

[indianaducks]

Is this area close to you @indianaducks?

Closer than I’d like but a few counties away. Nothing really I can do about it other than keep an eye on my ducks and monitor the situation. Just checked - probably 75 to 100 miles away from me. Give or take a very rough approximation.

 

[Miss Lydia]

 

[ruthhope]

Closer than I’d like but a few counties away. Nothing really I can do about it other than keep an eye on my ducks and monitor the situation. Just checked - probably 75 to 100 miles away from me. Give or take a very rough approximation.

Perhaps you can be proactive in protecting your flock. USDA Recommend being a "flock defender" and practicing biosecurity:

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ou...se-information/avian/defend-the-flock-program

 

[KCNC06]

Perhaps you can be proactive in protecting your flock. USDA Recommend being a "flock defender" and practicing biosecurity:

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ou...se-information/avian/defend-the-flock-program

I've looked through this a few times and it all seems like pretty "normal routine" stuff. I mean, not the shoe covers I guess, but most of the other stuff. The only birds I visit other than ours are at my parents farm and I always bring different shoes when I visit the farm even though I don't go into her chicken yards. I haven't been able to find anything that definitively states what counts for keeping your birds confined. Does it actually need to be indoors, like in a closed barn/coop? I've seen some people say their "run" is covered with deer fence/net to keep wild birds from interacting with their flock, but with a virus that's transmitted by the infected bird breathing, sharing drinking water, or pooping, netting doesn't seem like it's enough to protect a flock. Plus, if your "run" is large, covering it completely may not be a realistic option.

 

[KCNC06]

Here's part of the email. I imagine anyone can subscribe to the emails if you want the information. I just happened upon it when I was looking for more information about the issue last week.

This is from Indiana's Board of Animal Health.

​

​ Situation Update #3​ As of: February 15, 2022

​

​ State of Indiana Response to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Dubois County​ Note: New information is highlighted in BOLD ITALIC type.​

CURRENT SITUATION

Laboratory testing of a commercial flock of young turkeys in Dubois County has identified the H5 avian influenza virus. This is considered a presumptive-positive case and samples are being verified at the USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) in Iowa. This is the second farm (known as Dubois2) in Indiana to be diagnosed with avian influenza. Pending test results should indicate if the virus is the same as the index farm diagnosed on Feb. 9 and if the virus is highly pathogenic.

The close proximity of the second farm to the index site (Dubois1) means the established 10-km control area will remain the same.

The Dubois2 flock was tested after the owner noticed water consumption by the birds dropped dramatically (a clinical sign of avian influenza). The farm, already under quarantine, houses 26,473 birds.

The control area circle is primarily in Dubois County and a portion of northern Spencer County. All commercial poultry flocks (18 total) within the control area are under quarantine for the duration of this event (i.e., until the control area is lifted).

Poultry farms in the control area have completed the first round of surveillance testing for HPAI to ensure the virus is not present in the area beyond the index farm. Testing of the control area farms will continue on a weekly basis.

BOAH has established a surveillance zone around the control area to allow for additional monitoring for the presence of the virus in commercial poultry in the area. The zone extends an additional 10 km beyond the control area boundary. Commercial poultry operations in the surveillance zone are not under quarantine, but will be tested regularly (at less-frequent intervals) until the control area is lifted.

BOAH staff continue to reach out to known hobby/backyard poultry owners in the control area to schedule testing of birds to ensure the virus is not present. To date, 25 hobby flocks have been sampled; laboratory testing is not yet complete. Hobby poultry owners in Southern Dubois County should contact BOAH at 317-544-2387 to schedule testing at no charge. BOAH staff have begun testing small poultry flocks in the control area and will continue to make appointments to make site visits.

USDA-Wildlife Services staff in Indiana is beginning wild bird surveillance efforts in the area.

Thank you for sharing this! It doesn't sound like they automatically go in an kill all the birds within the control area like I've read elsewhere. I also appreciate knowing how big the control/containment area is. I love that they use metric distances. I wonder if it's a 6+ mile diameter or radius on the zone. I read something the other day that mentioned a 3 km radius but that wasn't in the US. I live near a nuclear power plant and their emergency plan stuff describes parts of their plan in radius distances. If you're within a 5 mile radius X applies to you, if you're within a 15 mile radius Y applies to you. It sounds like it's similar with the AI containment areas. If you're within the 10 km zone X applies, if you're in the 10-20 km zone, Y applies to you.
Either way, the closest case in NC so far is 150 miles away so that's good for now.