North Dakota BAH Limits Poultry Movements

 

Credit Wikipedia

 

# 9988

 

Although migratory birds are viewed as being behind the spread of HPAI H5 across the Western half of the nation, experience has shown that once a commercial operation becomes infected, it is all too easy to spread the virus via the movement of personnel, equipment or poultry products. 

 

While less affected than many of its Midwestern neighbors (only 2 outbreaks so far), North Dakota is imposing some strict rules on the movement of poultry and other birds in hopes of staving off additional outbreaks.  

 

Today’s order, which will be reviewed on June 10th, strives to prevent the intermingling of birds from around the state at shows, exhibitions and public sales.  This review is scheduled roughly 3 days before the start of that state’s county fair season – where roughly two dozen fairs (many featuring livestock exhibits) are scheduled across the state between June and August.

North Dakota’s State Fair runs from July 17-25, 2015 in Minot, ND.

 

Last week, you may recall there were media reports out of Minnesota (see Avian flu places State Fair poultry exhibition in doubt) suggesting similar measures may be needed there this summer.  

 

Many will recall the problems that swine variant flu viruses caused pig exhibitors during the summers between 2011 and 2013 (see CDC HAN Advisory On H3N2v), and more recently concerns have emerged over the spread of PEDV (see  Fair Biosecurity & H3N2 In North Dakota Show Pigs).

 

While there are hopes that summer temperatures will dampen down the avian flu threat – at least until the fall – states must weigh their options and decide on how best to reduce to the risks to their poultry industry. 

 

This from the North Dakota Board of Animal Health.

 

 

Poultry/bird movements limited to control spread of avian influenza

Submitted April 28, 2015

BISMARCK, N.D. – To protect North Dakota’s poultry industry from potential exposure to H5 avian influenza virus, the State Board of Animal Health (BOAH) has halted bird movement to shows, exhibitions and public sales within the state in which birds from different locations are intermingled at an event. This does not apply to approved private sales that meet North Dakota importation requirements.

“The state board is taking this precaution to reduce the risk of avian influenza exposure to North Dakota birds,” State Veterinarian Dr. Susan Keller said. “Mixing birds could unnecessarily increase the risk of exposure.”

This board action prohibits the specified poultry/bird movements until further notice. BOAH is continuing to monitor and assess the disease threat, which will be reviewed at their June 10 quarterly meeting.

North Dakota has had two confirmed cases of avian influenza in commercial poultry operations in Dickey and LaMoure counties affecting over 100,000 birds. Nationally, the outbreak has affected nearly 10 million birds in 13 states.

Bird owners should immediately report death loss to their local and state veterinarian, restrict access to their property, prevent contact between their birds and wild birds and practice enhanced biosecurity.

State Veterinarian Dr. Susan Keller is reminding anyone bringing birds into North Dakota to contact the North Dakota Department of Agriculture’s Animal Health Division at 701-328-2655 to ensure they are meeting all importation requirements.

North Dakota Reports 2nd Outbreak Of HPAI H5

 

 

# 9975

 

Not quite two weeks after their first farm was struck in Dickey County, today the North Dakota Department of Agriculture has announced a second farm in adjacent LaMoure County as been hit by a highly pathogenic H5 virus.   Final sub typing is pending, but the expectation is that this will turn out to be HPAI H5N2.

 

 

Avian influenza confirmed in second North Dakota flock

Submitted April 24, 2015

BISMARCK, N.D. – The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza (HPAI) in a commercial turkey flock in LaMoure County, North Dakota. The premises contained approximately 69,000 turkeys and also about 2,000 chickens. A presumptive positive case was first identified by the University of Minnesota’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and confirmed by the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa. This is the second case confirmed in North Dakota. A response team has been working with a Dickey County poultry farm since the first case was confirmed earlier this month.

The State Board of Animal Health and the North Dakota Department of Agriculture are working closely with USDA-APHIS and local officials in the LaMoure County response. The premises has been quarantined and the flock will be destroyed to prevent the spread of the disease. Domestic birds in a 6-mile control zone around the affected farm will be monitored and tested; and movement is being restricted to help prevent the spread of HPAI. Birds from the flock will not enter the food system.

There is no immediate public health concern due to this finding. The risk to people from HPAI is low despite the disease often being fatal for birds. No human infections with these viruses have been detected in the U.S.

“We have activated the avian influenza response plan that has been in place for some time,” said North Dakota State Veterinarian Dr. Susan Keller. “It is a collaborative effort with help from federal and state agencies, local officials and poultry producers.”

The avian influenza response team is working around the clock to control the outbreak and serve as a resource to residents. In an emergency clause, the North Dakota legislature has allotted $300,000 of federal spending authority to respond to and combat avian influenza.

Due to the recent findings of HPAI in North Dakota and surrounding states, poultry owners should immediately report death loss to their local and state veterinarian, restrict access to their property, prevent contact between their birds and wild birds and practice enhanced biosecurity.

Avian influenza exists in many wild birds and can be transmitted by contact with infected birds or ingestion of contaminated food and water.

As the number of HPAI cases continue to rise across the Midwest, scientists anticipate warmer temperatures will slow the spread of the disease. Typically, influenza viruses are hampered by warm, dry conditions.

More information about avian influenza and biosecurity recommendations is available at www.nd.gov/ndda/disease/avian-influenza and from the USDA-APHIS at www.aphis.usda.gov.

 

 

We should get an update on other avian flu activity from the USDA’s APHIS website sometime after 5pm EST.