#16,669
Texas has become the 25th state to report HPAI H5 in a commercial or backyard poultry flock since the virus was first detected in mid-January, involving more than 100 outbreaks and the loss of roughly 20 million birds. Another 9 states have reported the virus in wild birds.
This is the first major outbreak of HPAI H5 since the epizootic of 2015, which caused the loss of roughly 50 millions birds across 15 states (see below).
Although HPAI H5N1 is now considered to be a zoonotic virus, it is believed to pose a low risk to public health (see March 7, 2022 Update: H5N1 Bird Flu Poses Low Risk to the Public), and is primarily considered a threat to wild birds and poultry.
The virus continues to spread both north and west across the country, with 7 states added in just the past week. As birds begin their northbound return to their summer roosting areas, there are concerns the virus could spread even farther west, and into Canada and Alaska.
Today's announcement from the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) follows:
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Detected in Pheasants in Texas
AUSTIN, TX – The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) and the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a commercial pheasant flock (poultry) in Erath County, Texas. This is the first confirmation of HPAI in Texas.
Following an increase in bird deaths, samples from the flock were tested at the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, part of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network, and confirmed at the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa.
The TAHC is working closely with federal animal health officials on a joint incident response. State officials quarantined the affected premises, and birds on the property have been depopulated to prevent the spread of the disease. The plan for the control of avian influenza includes coordination of resources and response, and protocols for quarantine, testing, disposal, cleaning, disinfection and monitoring.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the recent HPAI detections do not present an immediate public health concern. No human cases of these avian influenza viruses have been detected in the United States. As a reminder, the proper handling and cooking of all poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165 ˚F is recommended as a general food safety precaution.
“Texas has been actively preparing alongside the USDA to respond to HPAI,” said Dr. Andy Schwartz, TAHC Executive Director and State Veterinarian. “We’d like to encourage Texas poultry owners to educate themselves on this disease and be vigilant in taking steps to protect their flocks from avian influenza.”
As part of existing avian influenza response plans, Federal and State partners are working jointly on additional surveillance and testing in areas around the affected flock. The United States has the strongest AI surveillance program in the world, and the TAHC and USDA is working to actively look for the disease in commercial poultry operations, live bird markets and in migratory wild bird populations.
Anyone involved with poultry production from the small backyard to the large commercial producer should review their biosecurity activities to assure the health of their birds. Owners of commercial and backyard poultry flocks are encouraged to closely observe their birds.
- Report a sudden increase in the number of sick birds or bird deaths to the TAHC at 1-800-550-8242 and/or USDA at 1-866-536-7593.
- Prevent contact with wild birds.
- Practice good biosecurity with your poultry flock.
- For the latest on the Texas HPAI response, visit https://www.tahc.texas.gov/animal_health/poultry
In addition to practicing good biosecurity, all bird owners should create barriers between their birds and wild birds and report sick birds or unusual bird deaths to State/Federal officials. Producers are encouraged to consider bringing birds indoors, when possible, to further prevent exposures, and avoid visits to other premises that also have birds. Additional information on biosecurity for backyard flocks can be found at https://www.tahc.texas.gov/news/brochures/TAHCBrochure_AI-BiosecurityPoultry.pdf.
