Announcement

**sharon sanders** · March 14, 2017, 10:22 AM

Also please see these threads about recent outbreaks across the border in Tennessee:

Tennessee: H7N9 LPAI at a poultry farm in Giles Co. - March 9, 2017

US - HPAI H7N9 Avian Flu (genetically distinct from China) Detected in Tennessee Commercial Poultry Farm - March 5, 2017

**Pathfinder** · March 14, 2017, 10:51 AM

Tue Mar 14, 2017 | 10:45am EDT

Alabama reports three cases of bird flu in poultry

Alabama has found bird flu at three poultry facilities in the northern part of the state, its agriculture department said on Tuesday, near where two cases were detected recently in Tennessee.

Alabama has "not received any definitive" test results that confirm its cases are highly pathogenic...

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-he...-idUSKBN16L1UX

**sharon sanders** · March 14, 2017, 11:07 AM

John McMillan, Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries speaking:...

samples sent to Ames Iowa lab

3 premises being investigated: backyard flock, commercial farm, flea market

**sharon sanders** · March 14, 2017, 12:18 PM

PRESS RELEASE
Monday, March 14, 2017 Contact: Amy Belcher 334-240-7126

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Stop Movement Order Issued on Certain Poultry in Alabama

Montgomery, Ala. ? State Veterinarian Dr. Tony Frazier in consultation with Commissioner John McMillan today has issued a stop movement order for certain poultry in Alabama. ?The health of poultry is critically important at this time,? said Dr. Frazier. ?With three investigations of avian influenza in north Alabama on three separate premises we feel that the stop movement order is the most effective way to implement biosecurity for all poultry in our state.?
The first two investigations were on two separate premises in north Alabama. One flock of chickens at a commercial breeder operation located in Lauderdale County, Ala. was found to be suspect for avian influenza. No significant mortality in the flock was reported. The other premise was a backyard flock in Madison County, Ala. Samples from both premises have been sent to the USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa and are being tested to determine presence of the virus.
The most recent investigation began following routine surveillance while executing Alabama?s HPAI Preparedness and Response Plan. USDA poultry technicians collected samples at the TaCo-Bet Trade Day flea market in Scottsboro located in Jackson County, Ala. on Sunday, March 12. Samples collected were suspect and those samples are on the way to the USDA Lab in Ames, Iowa.
Dr. Frazier reminds poultry owners to be vigilant about biosecurity. It is the department?s responsibility to protect backyard flock, exhibition, show and commercial poultry and stopping the movement of certain poultry is the most effective way to do so.
USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is working closely with the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) on a joint incident response. The U.S. has the strongest AI surveillance program in the world and USDA is working with its partners to actively look for the disease in commercial poultry operations, backyard birds, live bird markets and in migratory waterfowl populations.
This suspected strain of avian influenza does not pose a risk to the food supply. No affected poultry entered the food chain. The risk of human infection with avian influenza during poultry outbreaks is very low.
?Following the 2015 avian influenza outbreak in the Midwest, planning, preparation, and extensive biosecurity efforts were escalated in Alabama. Industry, growers, state and federal agencies and other stakeholders have worked hard to maintain a level of readiness,? said Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries John McMillan. ?Our staff is committed to staying actively involved in the avian influenza situation until any threats are addressed.?
Dr. Frazier has been working closely with USDA and the Tennessee Department of Agriculture this past week. He encourages commercial poultry producers and backyard flock owners to observe their birds closely and continue to practice strict biosecurity measures. These include:
? Isolating poultry from other animals
? Wearing clothing designated for use only at the poultry house
? Minimizing access to people and unsanitized equipment
? Keeping the area around the poultry buildings clean and uninviting to wild birds and animals
? Sanitizing the facility between flocks
? Cleaning equipment entering and leaving the farm
? Having an all in, all out policy regarding the placement and removal of the poultry
? Properly disposing of bedding material and mortalities
? Avoiding contact with migratory waterfowl
Frazier reminds all poultry owners and producers to strictly adhere to the biosecurity guidelines mentioned above. During this time, backyard flock owners should refrain from moving birds offsite or introducing new birds. The ADAI Poultry Division is available to answer any questions concerning movement of poultry and should be notified at 334-240-6584 and/or USDA at 1-866-536-7593 if birds show unusual signs of disease (flu-like symptoms) or flocks experiences unexplained mortalities.
The Alabama Cooperative Extension System has created a website to assist backyard flock owners with maintaining healthy birds and to provide answers for avian influenza control. It can be found at www.AlabamaAvianInfluenza.com.
* A video of today?s press conference will be posted to the department?s website later today.

http://www.agi.alabama.gov/s/press-r...try-in-alabama

**Pathfinder** · March 14, 2017, 12:59 PM

Originally posted by sharon sanders View Post

John McMillan, Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries speaking:...

samples sent to Ames Iowa lab

3 premises being investigated: backyard flock, commercial farm, flea market

Excerpts from Sharon's post #5:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lauderdale_County,_Alabama
One flock of chickens at a commercial breeder operation located in Lauderdale County, Ala.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madison_County,_Alabama
The other premise was a backyard flock in Madison County, Ala

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackson_County,_Alabama
TaCo-Bet Trade Day flea market in Scottsboro located in Jackson County, Ala

**sharon sanders** · March 15, 2017, 09:41 AM

Video of yesterday's media conference:

**Pathfinder** · March 15, 2017, 11:51 AM

U.S. | Tue Mar 14, 2017 | 7:50pm EDT

Poultry breeder Aviagen culls U.S. flock over bird flu fears

By Tom Polansek | CHICAGO

Aviagen [EWESJA.UL], the world's leading poultry breeding company, has euthanized chickens at a farm in Alabama over concerns about bird flu, the company said on Tuesday, as likely cases of the disease emerged in a top chicken-producing state.
...
Aviagen detected the presence of antibodies for the flu virus in a flock in Alabama that showed "no evidence of clinical disease," company spokeswoman Marla Robinson said in an email. The company is based in Alabama.
...
Tony Frazier, Alabama's state veterinarian, said the company chose to cull about 15,000 birds. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said the farm had 153,000 birds.

A national USDA lab is testing samples from poultry in Alabama to identify the strain of the virus and how lethal it is for birds, after another agency-approved lab identified the H7 subtype of the disease in samples, USDA spokeswoman Lyndsay Cole said.

The birds in Alabama did not show clinical signs of sickness, which indicates they did not have a highly lethal, or pathogenic, form of the virus, Cole said.
...
Separately, Frazier said the owner of a backyard flock suspected of having the virus chose to cull about 70 birds. No poultry linked to the third suspected case, which involved birds at a flea market, have been culled, he said.
...
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-he...-idUSKBN16L1UX

**Pathfinder** · March 15, 2017, 01:12 PM

Official Order Prohibiting Poultry Exhibitions And The Assembling Of Poultry To Be Sold

STATE OF ALABAMA
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND INDUSTRIES
1445 Federal Drive ? Montgomery, Alabama 36107-1123

John McMillan
Commissioner

Order Prohibiting Poultry Exhibitions And The Assembling Of
Poultry To Be Sold

Due to the recent confirmation of Avian Influenza in the State of Tennessee and with three
investigations of avian influenza in north Alabama, it is hereby ordered that all poultry
exhibitions in the State of Alabama are prohibited until this order is lifted by the Alabama
Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI). In addition, the concentration, collection, or
assembly of poultry of all types, including waterfowl and wild and exotic birds, from one or
more premises, at a private or public place, for purposes of sale is prohibited until this order is
lifted by ADAI. This includes, but is not limited to, poultry exhibitions or sales at regional and
county fairs, festivals, swap meets, exotic sales and live bird markets, flea markets and auctions.

This order is effective on this the 15th day of March, 2017. Authority for this order is found in
Ala. Code ?? 2-15-150 through 2-15-174, Ala. Code ?? 2-16-20 through 2-16-23, and Ala.
Admin. Code Rules 80-3-18-.08 and 80-3-18-.10.

Any questions regarding this order should be directed to the ADAI Poultry Division at 334-240-
6584.

...

**Pathfinder** · March 16, 2017, 04:26 PM

PRESS RELEASE
Monday, March 16, 2017 Contact: Amy Belcher 334-240-7126

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Update on Premises Under Investigation for Avian Influenza in Alabama

Montgomery, Ala. - Results have been received from the USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa on the sample collected from a guinea fowl at the TaCo-Bet Trade Day flea market in Scottsboro, located in Jackson County, Alabama. The sample tested positive for low pathogenic H7N9 avian influenza (LPAI). The premises of origin for the guinea fowl, also located in Jackson County, Ala., is under quarantine and continued surveillance. The guinea fowl in question have been depopulated.

Testing is still ongoing of samples submitted to NVSL from the other two premises in north Alabama, the commercial breeder flock in Lauderdale County and the backyard flock in Madison County. Out of an abundance of caution, the company decided to depopulate the entire flock at the commercial breeder operation in Lauderdale County and the birds were properly buried on the farm. The depopulation was not required but a decision made by the poultry company. The entire backyard flock in Madison County was also depopulated at the owners request. According to USDA, both cases are considered presumptive low pathogenic (LPAI) avian influenza because neither flock showed signs of illness.

Today, USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) confirmed a second case of highly pathogenic H7N9 avian influenza in a commercial breeder flock in Lincoln County, Tennessee. This H7N9 strain is of North American wild bird lineage and is the same strain of avian influenza that was previously confirmed in Tennessee. It is NOT the same as the China H7N9 virus that has impacted poultry and infected humans in Asia. The flock of 55,000 chickens is within three kilometers of the first Tennessee case. This second HPAI case in Tennessee does not extend the control zone in Alabama.

The official Order Prohibiting Poultry Exhibitions and the Assembling of Poultry to be Sold issued by the ADAI on Tuesday, March 14, 2017, remains in effect. All poultry exhibitions, sales at regional and county fairs, festivals, swap meets, exotic sales and live bird markets, flea markets and auctions are prohibited until the order is lifted. In addition, the concentration, collection, or assembly of poultry of all types, including waterfowl and wild and exotic birds, from one or more premises, at a private or public place, for purposes of sale is also prohibited. Shipments of baby chicks from National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) approved facilities are not affected by this order.

Alabama State Veterinarian Dr. Tony Frazier reminds poultry owners to be vigilant about biosecurity. It is the department’s responsibility to protect backyard flock, exhibition, show and commercial poultry and reducing the assembly and commingling of poultry is the most effective way to do so.

USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) continues to work closely with the ADAI on a joint incident response. The U.S. has the strongest AI surveillance program in the world and USDA is working with its partners to actively look for the disease in commercial poultry operations, backyard flocks, live bird markets and in migratory wild waterfowl populations.

This suspected strain of avian influenza does not pose a risk to the food supply. No affected animals entered the food chain. The risk of human infection with avian influenza during poultry outbreaks is very low.

“Our department staff is diligently working to protect the health of poultry in our state,” said Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries John McMillan. “We are committed to protect the livelihoods of the many farmers in Alabama.”

Dr. Frazier is in constant communication with USDA APHIS, neighboring state veterinarians, ADAI staff and stakeholders. He encourages commercial poultry producers and backyard flock owners to observe their birds closely and continue to practice strict biosecurity measures.

These include:
• Isolating poultry from other animals
• Wearing clothing designated for use only at the poultry house
• Minimizing access to people and unsanitized equipment
• Keeping the area around the poultry buildings clean and uninviting to wild birds and animals
• Sanitizing the facility between flocks
• Cleaning equipment entering and leaving the farm
• Having an all-in, all-out policy regarding the placement and removal of the poultry
• Properly disposing of bedding material and mortalities
• Avoiding contact with migratory waterfowl

Dr. Frazier reminds all poultry owners and producers to strictly adhere to the biosecurity guidelines mentioned above. During this time, backyard flock owners should refrain from moving birds offsite or introducing new birds. The ADAI Poultry Division is available to answer any questions concerning movement of poultry and should be notified at 334-240-6584 and/or USDA at 1-866-536-7593 if birds show unusual signs of disease (flu-like symptoms) or flocks experience unexplained mortalities.

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System has created a website to assist backyard flock owners with maintaining healthy birds and to provide answers for avian influenza control. It can be found at www.AlabamaAvianInfluenza.com.

http://www.agi.alabama.gov/s/press-r...nza-in-alabama

**sharon sanders** · March 16, 2017, 05:00 PM

Originally posted by Pathfinder View Post

PRESS RELEASE Monday, March 16, 2017

Must be a typo in the day of March 16 since today is Thursday. I am sure they did not know on Monday.

**Pathfinder** · March 17, 2017, 09:06 AM

Alabama officials concerned about spread of avian flu virus

POSTED 6:12 PM, MARCH 16, 2017, BY BRIAN LAWSON, UPDATED AT 06:14PM, MARCH 16, 2017
...
The state has been actively planning in case such an outbreak occurs, Alabama Agriculture Commissioner John McMillan told WHNT News 19.
...
McMillan said the range of the flu being found in different location ? as opposed to an adjoining firm ? is a source of concern...

"It?s a major source of concern," McMillan said. "We had seen it in other part of the country. We had felt until now that we were sort of isolated between the major flyways, because it?s spread by wild waterfowl feces and that?s an issue that we've been able to dodge until now."

McMillan said commercial growers do aggressive poultry testing and are prepared to kill a flock or more to prevent spread of the virus.

But, there is far less control over people with backyard chickens.

The state estimates thousands of people around Alabama keep chickens...
...
http://whnt.com/2017/03/16/alabama-o...ian-flu-virus/

**Pathfinder** · March 17, 2017, 03:29 PM

U.S. | Fri Mar 17, 2017 | 3:50pm EDT

Alabama waits for U.S. verdict on bird flu; importers limit trade

By Tom Polansek | CHICAGO
...
Alabama officials and poultry producers have been waiting since March 8 for the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) to confirm the two suspected cases, which involve a commercial chicken farm and a backyard flock, according to the state. The facility in Ames, Iowa, is the only one in the United States that officially confirms cases of avian flu.

Swift confirmation is important for U.S. trading partners, some of which restrict shipments from geographic areas with infected flocks, and for state officials, who want to know which strain of the virus they are battling.
...
The national labs must determine the strain and pathogenicity of the disease in order to officially confirm an infection, according to the USDA. The process often takes just a day.

A rapid test can be made when poultry samples contain sufficient genetic material, USDA spokeswoman Lyndsay Cole said on Thursday. But the samples from Alabama's two suspected cases contained low levels, meaning scientists had to start a testing process that can take 14 days, she said.

Tests by a USDA-approved lab in Alabama and the national labs have already identified the H7 subtype of the virus from samples in the two suspected cases, she said.
...

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-he...-idUSKBN16O2LG

**Pathfinder** · March 21, 2017, 11:26 AM

PRESS RELEASE
Tuesday, March 21, 2017 Contact: Daniel Autrey 334-240-7100

Additional Poultry Flocks Test Positive for Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza

Montgomery, Ala. - State Veterinarian, Dr. Tony Frazier, confirms that a flock of chickens at a commercial poultry breeding operation located in Pickens County and a backyard flock located in Madison County have both tested positive for low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI).

During routine screening, a commercial company collected samples from their Pickens County flock and submitted them to the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries State Diagnostic Laboratory located in Auburn, Alabama. These samples, suspected positive for avian influenza, were forwarded to the USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa. NVSL confirmed the commercial flock is positive for LPAI. This commercial flock has been placed under quarantine. While this is different from the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus that has been found recently in the United States, control measures are under way as a precautionary measure.

In addition to the suspected case in Pickens County, a backyard flock located in Madison County has also been confirmed positive for low pathogenic H7N9 avian influenza (LPAI) by NVSL. Surveillance zones have been put in place surrounding the locations in both Pickens and Madison counties.

This suspected strain of avian influenza does not pose a risk to the food supply and no affected animals entered the food chain.

On Tuesday, March 14, 2017, Dr. Tony Frazier issued an official Order Prohibiting Poultry Exhibitions and the Assembling of Poultry to Be Sold.
The order prohibits: all poultry exhibitions, sales at regional and county fairs, festivals, swap meets, live bird markets, flea markets and auctions.
The order also prohibits the concentration, collection, or assembly of poultry of all types, including wild waterfowl from one or more premises for purposes of sale. This order remains in effect. Shipments of eggs or baby chicks from National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) approved facilities are not affected by this order.

“The health of our poultry is critically important at this time,” said Dr. Frazier. “With confirmed cases of low pathogenic avian influenza in Alabama in both commercial and backyard flocks, the order reducing the assembly and commingling of poultry is the most effective way to practice strict biosecurity measures in our state.”

USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) continues to work closely with the ADAI on a joint incident response. The U.S. has the strongest avian influenza surveillance program in the world and USDA is working with its partners to actively look for the disease in commercial poultry operations, backyard flocks, livebird markets and in migratory wild waterfowl populations.

“The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries’ staff is working diligently to defend the health of poultry in our state,” said Commissioner John McMillan. “We are committed to protecting the livelihoods of Alabama farmers.”

Dr. Frazier reminds poultry producers and backyard flock owners to observe their birds closely and to be vigilant about practicing strict biosecurity measures. These include:

• Isolating poultry from other animals;
• Wearing clothing designated for use only at the poultry house;
• Minimizing access to people and unsanitized equipment;
• Keeping the area around the poultry buildings clean and uninviting to wild birds and animals;
• Sanitizing the facility between flocks;
• Cleaning equipment entering and leaving the farm;
• Having an all-in, all-out policy regarding the placement and removal of the poultry;
• Properly disposing of bedding material and mortalities;
• Avoiding contact with migratory waterfowl.

Dr. Frazier reminds all poultry owners and producers to strictly adhere to the biosecurity guidelines mentioned above. During this time, backyard flock owners should refrain from moving birds offsite or introducing new birds. The ADAI Poultry Division is available to answer any questions concerning movement of poultry and should be notified at 334-240-6584 and/or USDA at 1-866-536-7593 if birds show unusual signs of disease (flu-like symptoms) or flocks experience unexplained mortalities.

The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries will maintain updates of suspected cases of avian influenza on our website: www.agi.alabama.gov.

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System has created a website to assist backyard flock owners with maintaining healthy birds and to provide answers for avian influenza control. It can be found at www.AlabamaAvianInfluenza.com.

http://www.agi.alabama.gov/s/press-r...vian-influenza

**Pathfinder** · March 22, 2017, 11:34 AM

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pickens_County,_Alabama

---------------------------------------------

Chickens destroyed at Pickens County Peco farm after testing positive for bird flu
...
Tuesday
Posted Mar 21, 2017 at 3:38 PM
Updated Mar 21, 2017 at 7:00 PM

By Stephanie Taylor Staff Writer

A commercial flock of chickens at the Peco Foods farm in Gordo has tested positive for bird flu.
...
During routine screening, Peco submitted samples to the department's diagnostic lab in Auburn. These samples, suspected positive for avian influenza, were forwarded to the USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, where researchers confirmed the commercial flock was is positive for LPAI.

WVTM-13 reported Tuesday that the chickens were being destroyed. Poultry at facilities within a 6-mile radius of the farm on Floyds Mill Road are being monitored as a precaution, according to the news station.
...
http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/news/2...e-for-bird-flu

Announcement

US - Alabama: Media conference today regarding three findings of avian influenza in poultry in north Alabama - March 14, 2017

US - Alabama: Media conference today regarding three findings of avian influenza in poultry in north Alabama - March 14, 2017

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