Bird Flu Found On Western Kentucky Poultry Farm (H7)

[HenryN]

Bird Flu Found On Western KY Poultry Farm

Posted:<SCRIPT language=JavaScript>var wn_last_ed_date = getLEDate("Apr4, 2009 2:41 PM EST"); document.write(wn_last_ed_date);</SCRIPT> April 4, 2009 02:41 PM EDT
FRANKFORT, KY - State and federal authorities are investigating a finding of suspected non-pathogenic or low-pathogenic avian influenza in a single broiler/breeder poultry farm in western Kentucky. The strain poses minimal risk to human health and is not the high-pathogenic strain associated with human and poultry deaths in other countries.
State Veterinarian Robert C. Stout has quarantined the farm, which produces hatching eggs for Perdue Farms Inc. Perdue plans to depopulate 20,000 chickens in two houses on the farm.
"The state and federal government and Perdue are acting aggressively to contain and eliminate the disease," Dr. Stout said. "There is no evidence that any infected poultry are in the human food supply as a result of this infection. We will do what is necessary to minimize the disruption to overseas trade."
"I have been in constant contact with state, federal and industry officials since this came to light," Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer said. "The people of Kentucky and our trading partners should rest assured that we are doing everything possible to address the situation."
The Kentucky Department of Agriculture is conducting surveillance on backyard flocks within a two-mile radius of the farm.
A minimal drop in egg production at the farm was noticed in mid-March. Perdue's veterinary services laboratory took samples from chickens at the farm and found antibodies for avian influenza. Testing by the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, resulted in a presumptive positive finding for the H7 strain. Subsequent testing by NVSL and the Breathitt Veterinary Center in Hopkinsville confirmed the finding.
No virus has been isolated and no poultry deaths have been found in connection with the infection.
Avian influenza is a virus that affects domestic poultry and some wild birds. It is spread to healthy birds by direct contact with infected birds or infected material, often through feces from infected birds. Avian influenza is not transmitted through eggs. Low-pathogenic avian influenza causes little if any illness in poultry and is rarely fatal to poultry.

http://www.wlextv.com/global/story.asp?s=10130450&ClientType=Printable

[Giuseppe]

Re: Bird Flu Found On Western Kentucky Poultry Farm (H7)

Low pathogenic avian influenza (poultry), United States of America (4/7/2009) [WAHID Interface - OIE]

Low pathogenic avian influenza (poultry), United States of America

Information received on 06/04/2009 from Dr John Clifford, Deputy Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, United States of America

-- Summary
Report type Immediate notification
Start date 31/03/2009
Date of first confirmation of the event 31/03/2009
Report date 06/04/2009
Date submitted to OIE 06/04/2009
Reason for notification Reoccurrence of a listed disease
Date of previous occurrence 10/2008
Manifestation of disease Sub-clinical infection
Causal agent Low pathogenic avian influenza virus Serotype H7N9
Nature of diagnosis Laboratory (advanced)
This event pertains to a defined zone within the country

-- New outbreaks

- Outbreak 1 - Grayson County, Grayson County, KENTUCKY
Date of start of the outbreak 31/03/2009
Outbreak status Continuing (or date resolved not provided)
Epidemiological unit Farm
Affected animals: Species - Susceptible - Cases - Deaths - Destroyed - Slaughtered
- Birds - 20000 - ... - 0 - 20000 - 0
Affected population A commercial poultry broiler-breeder operation consisting of two poultry broiler-breeder houses with 20,000 birds that were 49 weeks old.

-- Summary of outbreaks
Total outbreaks: 1
Outbreak statistics: Species - Apparent morbidity rate - Apparent mortality rate - Apparent case fatality rate - Proportion susceptible animals lost*
- Birds - ** - 0.00% - ** - 100.00%
* Removed from the susceptible population through death, destruction and/or slaughter
** Not calculated because of missing information

-- Epidemiology
Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection
* Unknown or inconclusive

-- Epidemiological comments
? 31 March 2009: a National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) laboratory reported seropositive results for avian influenza. The birds were being tested as part of the NPIP Avian Influenza Clean Program (H5 and H7) for breeding facilities. No clinical signs other than a modest drop in egg production reported. No increase in mortality.
? 1 April 2009: Enhanced surveillance at the broiler-breeding operation implemented and additional laboratory samples were taken. There were no clinical indications of disease at the time of diagnostic testing.
? 2 April 2009: The National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) confirmed H7 RRT-PCR and hemagglutinin subtype as H7 positive.
--Laboratory testing is continuing, but to date no virus has been isolated.
? Kentucky State animal health officials, in coordination with USDA APHIS Veterinary Services, implemented the LPAI response plan in accordance with the Kentucky Initial State Response and Containment Plan for H5 and H7 LPAI.

Implementation included:
- An enhanced surveillance zone of 10Km (6.2 miles) was implemented as outlined in the plan. There are four farms, all breeder facilities, and all owned by the same company, within the 10Km radius of the positive premises. Laboratory samples were collected and submitted from all four farms.
- Surveillance of backyard poultry flocks is being conduced within a 3Km (2-mile) radius of the premises.

? 4 April 2009: NVSL reported sera tested by haemagglutination inhibition test and neuraminidase inhibition test were seropositive for H7N9
? 4 April 2009: As a precautionary measure, all birds in the two houses were depopulated.
? 5 April 2009: All laboratory samples collected from the enhanced surveillance on the four breeding facilities yielded negative laboratory results for avian influenza.

Note by the OIE Animal Health Information Department: H5 and H7 avian influenza in its low pathogenic form in poultry is a notifiable disease as per Chapter 10.4. on avian influenza of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code (2008).

-- Control measures
Measures applied
* Stamping out
* Quarantine
* Zoning
* Vaccination prohibited
* No treatment of affected animals
Measures to be applied
* Disinfection of infected premises/establishment(s)

-- Diagnostic test results
Laboratory name and type National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) laboratory (Local laboratory)
Tests and results: Species - Test - Test date - Result
- Birds - agar-gel immunodiffusion (AGID) - 31/03/2009 - Positive
Laboratory name and type National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) (National laboratory)
Tests and results: Species - Test - Test date - Result
- Birds - agar-gel immunodiffusion (AGID) - 05/04/2009 - Negative
- Birds - enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) - 05/04/2009 - Negative
- Birds - haemagglutination inhibition test (HIT) - 04/04/2009 - Positive
- Birds - neuraminidase inhibition assay - 04/04/2009 - Positive
- Birds - real-time reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR) - 02/04/2009 - Positive
- Birds - real-time reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR) - 04/04/2009 - Positive

-- Future Reporting
The event is continuing. Weekly follow-up reports will be submitted.
-

<cite cite="http://www.oie.int/wahis/public.php?page=single_report&pop=1&reportid=7979" >WAHID Interface - OIE World Animal Health Information Database</cite>

[Shiloh]

Re: Bird Flu Found On Western Kentucky Poultry Farm (H7)

Source: http://www.bizlex.com/ShoeBoxArticle...influenza.html

Western Kentucky backyard flocks test negative for avian influenza
submitted by ted.sloan
April 09, 2009 | 04:24 PM

FRANKFORT, Ky. ? Backyard poultry flocks near the western Kentucky poultry farm where avian influenza was discovered tested negative on initial testing for the disease, State Veterinarian Robert C. Stout announced today. Additional tests are pending.

The non-pathogenic or low-pathogenic strain that was detected last week poses minimal risk to human health and is not the high-pathogenic strain associated with human and poultry deaths in other countries.

State animal health workers took samples from poultry in backyard flocks within a two-mile radius of the farm, which produces hatching eggs for Perdue Farms Inc. The farm will remain under quarantine until the poultry houses on the farm are cleaned and disinfected, Dr. Stout said.

The state is developing plans to expand the testing radius for backyard flocks to 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), Dr. Stout said. "We will take all necessary steps to assure residents, consumers and international trading partners that the disease has been contained and eradicated," he said.

Dr. Stout pointed out that animal health workers wear personal protective equipment to conduct the testing to comply with routine protocol established by federal and state authorities.

Dr. Kraig E. Humbaugh of the Kentucky Department for Public Health stressed that there is no evidence that the disease has been transmitted from birds to humans in this outbreak and there never has been documented human-to-human transmission of low-pathogenic avian influenza in the United States. Dr. Humbaugh advised that eggs and poultry products for human consumption always should be cooked to recommended temperatures.

The Barren River District Health Department and the Lincoln Trail District Health Department are working in collaboration with the Kentucky Department for Public Health to follow up on any potential human exposure to low-pathogenic avian influenza.

The disease was detected as a result of testing by Perdue and state and national laboratories after a minor drop in egg production was noticed last month. No virus has been isolated and no poultry at the farm died or became sick because of the disease.

Avian influenza is a virus that affects domestic poultry and some wild birds. It is spread to healthy birds by direct contact with infected birds or infected material, often through feces from infected birds. Avian influenza is not transmitted through eggs. Low-pathogenic avian influenza causes little if any illness in poultry and is rarely fatal to poultry.

[Giuseppe]

Re: Bird Flu Found On Western Kentucky Poultry Farm (H7)

Low pathogenic avian influenza (poultry), United States of America (4/14/2009) [WAHID Interface - OIE]

Low pathogenic avian influenza (poultry), United States of America

Information received on 14/04/2009 from Dr John Clifford, Deputy Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, United States of America

-- Summary
Report type Follow-up report No. 1
Start date 31/03/2009
Date of first confirmation of the event 31/03/2009
Report date 08/04/2009
Date submitted to OIE 14/04/2009
Reason for notification Reoccurrence of a listed disease
Date of previous occurrence 10/2008
Manifestation of disease Sub-clinical infection
Causal agent Low pathogenic avian influenza virus Serotype H7N9
Nature of diagnosis Laboratory (advanced)
This event pertains to a defined zone within the country
Related reports
* Immediate notification (06/04/2009)
* Follow-up report No. 1 (08/04/2009)

-- Outbreaks
There are no new outbreaks in this report.

-- Epidemiology
Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection
* Unknown or inconclusive

-- Epidemiological comments
- All commercial farms within the 10 km radius of the positive premises have completed two (2) rounds of laboratory sampling.
- Enhanced surveillance on all breeder/pullet sites within the company complex in Kentucky from birds older than 10 weeks (the first round of laboratory sampling has been completed).
- Enhanced surveillance of broiler flocks that received eggs from the index premises.
- Initial laboratory sampling of all backyard premises within a 3 km (2-mile) radius of the index premises has been completed.
? 4-5 April 2009: cleaning and disinfection (C&D) of the premises initiated.
? 10 April 2009: All laboratory samples collected from the enhanced surveillance activities have yielded negative laboratory results for avian influenza.

Note by the OIE Animal Health Information Department: H5 and H7 avian influenza in its low pathogenic form in poultry is a notifiable disease as per Chapter 10.4. on avian influenza of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code (2008).

-- Control measures
Measures applied
* Stamping out
* Quarantine
* Zoning
* Disinfection of infected premises/establishment(s)
* Vaccination prohibited
* No treatment of affected animals
Measures to be applied
* No other measures

-- Future Reporting
The event is continuing. Weekly follow-up reports will be submitted.
-

<cite cite="http://www.oie.int/wahis/public.php?page=single_report&pop=1&reportid=7988" >WAHID Interface - OIE World Animal Health Information Database</cite>