Julie Helm sent an email out warning of fowl pox:
Dear SC NPIP Testers and Participants – just FYI
Pox virus in Poultry – Increased numbers over the summer and into the fall season
There were increased numbers of Pox virus cases in poultry this summer and will probably continue through fall. Avian Pox viruses are spread to birds through biting insects and because of our mild winter we had last year, there is an increased amount of insects out and thus increased amount of diseases that are spread through insects (mosquitoes, ticks, midges, etc.) in all types of animals.
Pox is a common viral disease of poultry, as well as in pet and wild birds. Avian pox viruses include: fowl pox, turkey pox, pigeon pox, quail pox, peacock pox, crow pox, starling pox, canary pox, junco pox, mynah pox, psittacines pox, penguin pox, alala pox, apapane pox, and condor pox.
In poultry, Pox virus is slow moving disease and is primarily spread by infected mosquitoes, but also infected birds fighting and spreading it through the pox virus-loaded scabs. Mild Pox virus strains will cause the “dry” cutaneous form (see skin scabs on the head and combs), more virulent Pox virus strains can cause both “dry” cutaneous and “wet” diphtheritic lesions in the mouth, esophagus, and trachea. Wet Pox will cause a higher death rate in the flock, since the virus lesions can build up and block off the trachea causing the birds to suffocate.
There is no treatment for Pox virus since it is a virus. You can only prevent it with vaccination. The birds may also get secondary bacterial infections (pus inside their eyelids and sinuses). Since Pox virus is a “slow-moving” disease, you can vaccinate the flock in the face of an outbreak to try to protect those birds who had not yet been exposed to the field virus. As with any vaccine, follow the label instructions completely – you have to use the vaccine within 1-2 hours of opening the vial, vaccinate all the birds, and throw away any unused amount – you cannot save it in the fridge for later use. Poultry vaccinated with any type of live virus vaccine should not attend shows, fairs or other places of co-mingling until at least 1 month after the birds had been vaccinated.
Fowl Pox vaccination in chickens: fowl pox vaccine is applied (with a little fork applicator) by wing web method to 4-week old chickens and to pullets about 1-2 months prior to egg production, and boosted annually prior to egg laying the next year. There is a young bird fowl pox vaccine that can be given to chicks. Young birds in heavily infected pox areas may need an additional booster in 8 weeks because of interference from maternal antibodies that might be present up to 3 weeks of age in chicks if the hen had been vaccinated with pox.
Fowl Pox vaccination in turkeys: give vaccine initially to poults at 2-3 months of age. Since the wing web vaccination may create “dry” cutaneous pox lesions on the turkey’s head (because turkeys sleep with their head under their wing) you can give the vaccine midway on thigh. For turkeys breeders revaccinated 1-2 months prior to egg laying and boost annually prior to egg laying and when the mosquitoes come out.
For quail, you will need to use Quail Pox vaccine, as that is the most likely strain of Pox they get. There is no cross-protection between the different Pox vaccines (Fowl Pox, Quail Pox, Pigeon Pox vaccine, etc.), so quail vaccinated with Quail Pox vaccine will not be protected again Fowl Pox field viruses. (yes it is complex!)
The Pox disease or vaccine may cause laying hens in production to stop laying eggs temporarily – they will eventually recover in 2-3 weeks.
Pox virus in poultry is not a concern for people eating the meat or eggs. Human chickenpox (cause by varicella zoster virus) is a different type of virus and not related to avian pox viruses.
Try Jeffers catalog for the Fowl Pox vaccine:
www.jefferslivestock.com or 1-800-533-3377. They have both Fort Dodge products, Chick-n-Pox (for the young birds 1 day of age or older) and Poxine (for the older birds, 4 or 6 weeks +). Both of these vaccines are fowl pox origin. There is a possibility that your area could be having an outbreak of quail pox, which tends to flare up every so many years. If you still see pox lesions occurring in your fowl pox vaccinated birds, it is because the vaccines do not cross protect between the different pox strains (fowl pox, quail pox, turkey pox, crow strains). Jeffers also carries a quail pox vaccine (by Ceva Biomune), however it costs a lot more than the regular fowl pox.
Try Quail Valley Farm (Indian Trail, NC) for Quail Pox vaccine as well: 704-753-4464