Oregon Quarantines Another Backyard Flock Over HPAI

Major Global Migratory Flyways – Credit FAO

 

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Although they are but skirmishes at this point, the USDA, APHIS, and state and local agriculture officials – along with the poultry industry – continue to battle the recent importation (via migratory birds) of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the western United States. 

 

First a statement on the latest find from the Oregon Department of Agriculture, after which I’ll be back with a bit more:

 

Avian influenza detected in Deschutes County flock of backyard birds

February 14th, 2015

The Oregon Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with the US Department of Agriculture, is responding to a detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a flock of backyard birds near Tumalo in Deschutes County. ODA, working with the USDA’s Animal Health Inspection Service (APHIS), is in the process of setting up a quarantine zone around the property to restrict movement of domestic birds in and out of the area. Currently, the property is secured and there have been no additional detections of HPAI in the area.

The flock of about 90 mixed poultry and other domestic birds includes chickens, ducks, and turkeys that have had access to a couple of ponds on the property that are also frequented by migratory wild waterfowl. Avian influenza naturally resides in wild birds and it is fairly common for waterfowl to carry various strains of the virus. HPAI has also been reported in backyard birds in Washington and Idaho, and in wild birds in all three Pacific Northwest states.

The Deschutes County detection is the second in Oregon. HPAI was detected in a flock of backyard birds in Douglas County in December.

(Continue . . . )

 

Until a few months ago North American poultry producers had little to fear over the Asian HPAI H5 viruses like H5N1, or the recently emerged H5N8 which has wreaked havoc in Korea and Taiwan.  While North American birds carry many different LPAI (low pathogenic) viruses, the really dangerous ones were thousands of miles and an ocean away.

But time, overlapping migratory flyways, and a newly emerged HPAI H5 that seems particularly well suited for carriage by wild and migratory birds have combined to bring H5N8, and its reassortant H5N2 and H5N1 offspring, to the Americas.

Suddenly the bird flu problem which has plagued Asian and Middle Eastern poultry produces has come here to roost, putting poultry operations from Canada to Mexico on alert. Thus far these HPAI viruses have only affected one commercial operation in the United States, and about a dozen in Canada, but they continue to crop up in wild and migratory birds and a handful of backyard flocks.

 

The  USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories confirmed Wild Bird Findings are now at 30 cases, and climbing.

 

 

Our knowledge of how these new reassortant viruses will behave in poultry, and in humans, is very limited at this time. Other reassortants carrying this H5 gene segment (H5N8, H5N2) have not yet been shown to pose a health risk to humans.  

 

Whether that will hold true with these viruses remains to be seen.

 

For now the CDC is taking a cautious approach to all of of these recently arrived HPAI viruses, and has issued guidance for the testing, and prophylactic treatment of those exposed. 

 

CDC Interim Guidance For Testing For Novel Flu

CDC Interim Guidance On Antiviral Chemoprophylaxis For Persons With Exposure To Avian Flu

And local and state officials are asking people report, but not touch, dead birds.

 

USDA/APHIS: H5N8 Detected In Oregon Backyard Flock

 

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While not making huge headlines, one of the big stories of the week has been the encroachment of HPAI H5N8 (and HPAI H5N2) into the Pacific Northwest, likely carried in via migratory birds.

 

Just above the border in British Columbia, North America’s first outbreak of HPAI H5 (see CFIA: 11th Poultry Operation Identified With H5N2) - which began nearly 3 weeks ago - continues to plague poultry operations.

 

Today it was announced (h/t Sharon Sanders on FluTrackers) that Oregon is now the second state this week to detect the arrival of these highly pathogenic avian flu viruses (see Tuesday’s OIE/APHIS of HPAI H5N8 & H5N2 Detected In Washington State Wild Birds).   

 

At this point no U.S. commercial poultry operations have been affected, and the risk to human health from these viruses is considered low.  First stop, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) release on this latest detection:

 

H5N8 Found in Backyard Poultry in Oregon; Virus not found in commercial poultry in U.S. - No public health concern at this time

 Dec. 18, 2014— The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic (HPAI) H5N8 avian influenza in guinea fowl and chickens from a small backyard poultry flock in Winston, Oregon. The flock of approximately 100 birds has access to the outdoors. A pond and a marsh on the premises are frequented by migratory birds. The H5N8 virus has NOT been found in commercial poultry anywhere in the United States. There is no immediate public health concern, as the H5N8 virus has been found in birds in other parts of the world and has not caused any human infection to date.

Surveillance for avian influenza is ongoing in commercial poultry operations, live bird markets, and in migratory wild bird populations. Additionally, commercial poultry producers follow strict biosecurity practices and raise their birds in very controlled environments. Birds from the affected backyard flock will not enter the food chain. All poultry, poultry products and wild birds are safe to eat as long as they are properly handled and cooked to a temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. The finding in Oregon was quickly reported and identified due to increased awareness of avian influenza in light of the HPAI H5 findings in wild birds in Washington State earlier this week. This H5N8 virus is the same virus that was found in the Washington State gyrfalcons.

Oregon State officials and USDA are working jointly to respond to this detection, following existing HPAI response plans. The State of Oregon quarantined the affected premises, and APHIS will assist the State in depopulating the remaining birds to prevent the spread of the disease. Additional surveillance of poultry around the infected premises will be conducted as outlined in the response plans. USDA notified the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) of this detection today as required by the OIE. USDA expects trading partners to respond to this reported detection according to OIE’s science-based standards. USDA is working with trading partners to minimize trade impacts on poultry and poultry products as much as possible.

All bird owners, whether commercial producers or backyard enthusiasts, are encouraged to practice good biosecurity, prevent contact between their birds and wild birds, and to report sick birds or unusual bird deaths to State/Federal officials, either through your state veterinarian or through USDA’s toll-free number at 1-866-536-7593. Additional information on biosecurity for backyard flocks can be found at
healthybirds.aphis.usda.gov USDA is coordinating closely with its partners, including Washington and Oregon State officials, the U.S. Department of the Interior and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, on avian influenza surveillance, reporting, and control.

 

Meanwhile, the State of Oregon has released the following statement:

 

News release: Oregon activates avian influenza response plan

News release, Plants, Animals, Insects

December 19th, 2014

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The State of Oregon has activated a multi-agency response plan following the confirmation of highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza in domestic birds in Douglas County. The Oregon Department of Agriculture is the lead state agency responding to the incident, working closely with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Oregon Health Authority. The US Department of Agriculture’s Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS) will play a key role in the response as well.

There is no immediate public health concern due to the avian influenza virus detected in Oregon. H5N8 virus has been found in other parts of the world and has not caused any human infection to date. Avian influenza does not affect poultry meat or egg products, which remain safe to eat. As always, both wild and domestic poultry should be properly cooked.

The H5N8 avian influenza virus was confirmed by USDA in guinea fowl and chickens from a small backyard poultry flock in Winston, Oregon. The flock of approximately 100 birds has access to the outdoors. A pond and a marsh on the premises are frequented by migratory birds. The virus has not been found in commercial poultry anywhere in the US. Surveillance for avian influenza is ongoing in commercial poultry operations, live bird markets, and in migratory wild bird populations.

The finding in Oregon was quickly reported and identified due to increased awareness of avian influenza in light of the high path avian influenza findings in wild birds in Washington earlier this week. This H5N8 virus is the same virus that was found in a Washington captive gyrfalcon.

ODA is advising commercial poultry growers and backyard flock owners to be vigilant with biosecurity measures and surveillance.

“Steps are being taken to contain the disease and we have not diagnosed avian influenza elsewhere in Oregon’s domestic poultry population, but the presence of the virus in migratory waterfowl poses a potential risk to our backyard poultry,” says ODA’s State Veterinarian Dr. Brad LeaMaster. “This event underscores the importance of biosecurity for backyard bird owners. We strongly encourage owners to take biosecurity measures to reduce the risk of spreading the disease. That includes preventing contact between their birds and wild birds. We also want them to monitor their flock closely and report sick birds.”

Backyard flock owners can report sick birds to the State Veterinarian’s office at 1-800-347-7028 or can call USDA toll free at 1-866-536-7593.

Oregon’s commercial poultry industry has a robust avian influenza testing program and ODA conducts weekly surveillance testing and health inspections at the state’s only live bird market in Woodburn. In addition, wild bird mortality surveillance is routinely conducted by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Wild bird deaths can be reported to the ODFW toll-free line at 1-866-968-260