USDA APHIS | USDA Confirms Hugely Pathogenic Avian Influenza in a Flock of Business Broiler Chickens in Kentucky and Non-Professional Backyard Flock (Non-Poultry) in Virginia

Contacts:
Mike Stepien
[email protected]
Lyndsay Cole
[email protected]

WASHINGTON, February 14, 2022 – The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS) has verified the presence of very pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in birds in two states – a flock of commercial broiler chickens in Fulton County, Kentucky, and a yard flock (non-poultry) in Fauquier County, Virginia.

Samples from two Kentucky flocks have been examined at the Breathitt Veterinary Middle Laboratory and samples from the affected Virginia flock had been analyzed at the Virginia Section of Agriculture and Purchaser Solutions Harrisonburg Regional Animal Health Laboratory, both component of the National Animal Wellbeing Laboratory Network. The Virginia and Fulton County, Kentucky cases have been verified at the APHIS National Veterinary Expert services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa. The Breathitt Veterinary Middle Laboratory also attained a non-detrimental avian influenza test final result on the samples from a Webster County turkey flock, and NVSL affirmation is pending.

APHIS is operating carefully with point out animal overall health officials in Kentucky and Virginia on joint incident responses. Condition officials quarantined the impacted premises, and birds on the properties will be depopulated to avert the spread of the disorder. Depopulation is comprehensive in Virginia. Birds from the flocks will not enter the food items system.

According to the U.S. Centers for Illness Management and Avoidance, these avian influenza detections do not present an speedy general public health issue. No human circumstances of these avian influenza viruses have been detected in the United States. As a reminder, the appropriate dealing with and cooking of poultry and eggs to an inside temperature of 165 ˚F kills micro organism and viruses.

As section of present avian influenza response plans, Federal and Condition companions are operating jointly on supplemental surveillance and tests in places close to the afflicted flocks. The United States has the strongest AI surveillance software in the planet, and USDA is operating with its associates to actively glimpse for the sickness in commercial poultry operations, are living chicken markets and in migratory wild hen populations.

Anybody concerned with poultry manufacturing from the little yard to the massive professional producer should review their biosecurity activities to assure the health of their birds. APHIS has products about biosecurity, which includes video clips, checklists, and a toolkit obtainable at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-illness-information/avian/protect-the-flock-plan/dtf-assets/dtf-methods

USDA will report these conclusions to the Globe Organisation for Animal Wellbeing (OIE) as effectively as intercontinental buying and selling partners. USDA also continues to communicate with investing associates to persuade adherence to OIE criteria and lower trade impacts. OIE trade tips connect with on nations to foundation trade limitations on audio science and, any time doable, restrict restrictions to those animals and animal merchandise in a defined area that pose a possibility of spreading disease of concern.

APHIS will carry on to announce the very first situation of HPAI in professional and backyard flocks detected in a Condition but will not announce subsequent detections in the Condition. All scenarios in professional and yard flocks will be detailed on the APHIS site at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-disorder-information and facts/avian/avian-influenza/2022-hpai

In addition to training very good biosecurity, all fowl homeowners ought to prevent call involving their birds and wild birds and report ill birds or unconventional hen fatalities to Point out/Federal officials, both by means of their state veterinarian or by means of APHIS’ toll-absolutely free amount at 1-866-536-7593. APHIS urges producers to consider bringing birds indoors when achievable to more avoid exposures. The Animal Well being Defense Act authorizes APHIS to offer indemnity payments to producers for birds and eggs that should be depopulated for the duration of a sickness response. APHIS also presents compensation for disposal functions and virus elimination activities. Additional facts on biosecurity for yard flocks can be located at http://healthybirds.aphis.usda.gov.

Supplemental track record
Avian influenza (AI) is prompted by an influenza kind A virus which can infect poultry (these kinds of as chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, domestic ducks, geese, and guinea fowl) and is carried by no cost flying waterfowl this kind of as ducks, geese and shorebirds. AI viruses are categorized by a mixture of two teams of proteins: hemagglutinin or “H” proteins, of which there are 16 (H1–H16), and neuraminidase or “N” proteins, of which there are 9 (N1–N9). Numerous different combinations of “H” and “N” proteins are possible. Each and every combination is regarded a distinct subtype and can be even more damaged down into distinctive strains which flow into inside flyways/geographic regions. AI viruses are more categorized by their pathogenicity (very low or superior)—the capability of a unique virus strain to generate ailment in domestic poultry.

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