Missouri: H5N2 confirmed at 2 turkey facilities

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.ksdk.com/story/news/healt...ties/24629899/

Deadly bird flu strain confirmed in 2 Mo. facilities
Associated Press 9:56 p.m. CDT March 8, 2015

...The Missouri Department of Agriculture announced Sunday that the virus was confirmed in turkeys at a grower facility in Asbury in the southwest part of the state. Preliminary tests also came back positive for the virus at a facility in Fortuna in mid-Missouri. It was not immediately clear how many birds were affected.

It's the same H5N2 strain that's been confirmed in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Minnesota...

[Gert van der Hoek]

March 8, 2015

MDA implementing response to contain, eliminate virus following detection of avian influenza in Missouri

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The Missouri Department of Agriculture announced today that it is implementing its plan for a coordinated response with the USDA, state health officials and industry partners following confirmation that turkeys at a grower facility in Asbury, near Carthage, had been infected with a strain of avian influenza. Outbreaks of a strain of avian flu have occurred in Minnesota, Oregon, Washington and Idaho and are not considered to be a threat to public health or the food supply. Preliminary tests also came back positive for the virus at another facility in Fortuna in Moniteau County.

MDA is following its strict protocols to contain and eliminate the disease. The facilities were immediately quarantined and the remaining turkeys in the involved flocks will be depopulated and will not enter the food system. Following USDA protocols, surveillance and testing procedures are underway at properties near the affected facilities to ensure the virus has not spread.

As a precaution, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) is reaching out to monitor workers who may have been exposed to the virus. MDA has also been working with the USDA, which is sending an incident management team to Missouri to assist MDA in its response.

While lethal to birds, the strain of virus detected is not known to have caused disease in humans and is not expected to pose a risk to public health.

The specimens from Carthage were tested by the state animal health diagnostic lab in Springfield and the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa confirmed the finding. MDA is awaiting confirmation on an additional specimen from Fortuna.

[sharon sanders]

This is bad news. This H5N2 outbreak is very close to the largest poultry producing states in the US.

http://www.nationalchickencouncil.or...ducing-states/


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

Please see:


USDA - Highly Pathogenic H5N8 Avian Influenza Confirmed in Commercial Flocks in California

US - Oregon: H5N8 avian influenza virus was confirmed by USDA in guinea fowl and chickens from a small backyard poultry flock in Winston - HPAI detected in Deschutes County flock of backyard birds

US - Washington state: HP H5N2 confirmed in Benton and Okanogan County - WSDA - OIE

CDC - Outbreaks of Avian Influenza A (H5N2), (H5N8), and (H5N1) Among Birds ? United States, December 2014? January 2015

US - Media report: Nevada NDA confirms 1st case of HP H5N8 in bird - January 30, 2015

US, Idaho - HP H5N2 and H5N8 detected in wild birds and backyard flock

Washington State - H5N2 found in poultry in Clallam Co.

US - Utah Detects H5N8 Avian Influenza in Waterfowl

US - Washington state: H5N2 & H5N8 found in 2 birds (not poultry) in Whatcom county - OIE report

US, Minnesota - Highly Pathogenic H5N2 Strain in Turkey Flock

[sharon sanders]

HK bans import of poultry meat and products from Jasper County, State of Missouri, US
************************************************** ****** The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (March 10) that in view of a notification from the United States (US) authorities about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza in Jasper County, State of Missouri, the US, it has banned the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the county with immediate effect for the protection of Hong Kong's public health.

A CFS spokesman said about 267 000 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat and about 530 million poultry eggs were imported into Hong Kong from the US last year.

"The CFS has contacted the US authorities over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the World Organisation for Animal Health on avian influenza outbreaks in the country. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.
Ends/Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Issued at HKT 16:52

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201503/10/P201503100582.htm

[Pathfinder]

March 9, 2015
No public health concern as no human cases detected in the United States

MDA confirms avian influenza in second Missouri facility

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. ? The Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA) has confirmed that a turkey growing facility in Moniteau County has been infected by avian influenza. The facility, located at 35764 Newkirk Road in Fortuna, houses 21,000 turkeys. The MDA is continuing its coordinated response with USDA, state health officials and industry partners.

Previously, on March 8, the Missouri Department of Agriculture confirmed that turkeys at a grower facility in Jasper County, with a commercial turkey flock of 30,100, had been infected with H5N2 avian influenza. That facility is located at 30213 Thyme Road in Asbury.

USDA?s National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) reported the Jasper County facility was the first time H5N2 had been detected in Missouri.

Outbreaks of a strain of avian flu have occurred in Minnesota, Oregon, Washington and Idaho and are not considered to be a threat to public health or the food supply.

MDA continues to follow strict protocols to contain and eliminate the disease. The facilities were immediately quarantined and the remaining turkeys in the involved flocks will be depopulated and will not enter the food system. Following USDA protocols, surveillance and testing procedures are underway at properties near the affected facilities to ensure the virus has not spread.

As a precaution, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) is reaching out to monitor workers who may have been exposed to the virus. MDA and USDA?s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) have initiated an incident command response, and APHIS will assist MDA in overseeing the depopulation of the remaining birds on the property to prevent the spread of the disease.

While lethal to birds, no human cases of these avian influenza viruses have been detected in the United States, Canada, or internationally, and there is no immediate public health concern.

The specimens from Moniteau County were tested by the state animal health diagnostic lab in Springfield and the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa confirmed the finding.

All bird owners, whether commercial producers or backyard enthusiasts, need to continue practicing good biosecurity, preventing contact between their birds and wild birds, and reporting sick birds or unusual bird deaths to your veterinarian and the Missouri Department of Agriculture?s Animal Health division at (573) 751-3377. Additional information about avian influenza can be found on the Missouri Department of Agriculture?s web site.

###

http://agriculture.mo.gov/news/2015/...souri_facility

[Pathfinder]

Location of the 2 counties affected by avian influenza:

Jasper County

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jasper_County,_Missouri

Moniteau County, Missouri

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moniteau_County,_Missouri

[Pathfinder]

USDA Confirms Highly Pathogenic H5N2 Avian Influenza in Commercial Turkey Flocks in Missouri;
CDC considers the risk to people from these HPAI H5 infections in wild birds, backyard flocks and commercial poultry, to be low

WASHINGTON, March 10, 2015 -- The United States Department of Agriculture?s
(USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed the presence of
highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza (HPAI) in two separate commercial turkey flocks in
Missouri. The flocks are located in Jasper County and Moniteau County, within the Mississippi
flyway where this strain of avian influenza has previously been identified. CDC considers the risk
to people from these HPAI H5 infections in wild birds, backyard flocks and commercial poultry,
to be low.

Samples from the turkey flocks, which experienced increased mortality, were tested at the
Missouri Department of Agriculture Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and the APHIS National
Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa confirmed the findings. APHIS is working
closely with the Missouri Department of Agriculture on a joint incident response. State officials
quarantined the affected premises and the remaining birds on the properties will be depopulated
to prevent the spread of the disease. Birds from the involved flocks will not enter the food system.

No human infections with these viruses have been detected at this time. The Missouri
Department of Agriculture is working directly with poultry workers at the affected facility to
ensure that they are taking the proper precautions. As a reminder, the proper handling and
cooking of poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165 ˚F kills bacteria and viruses.

As part of existing avian influenza response plans, Federal and State partners are working
jointly on additional surveillance and testing in the nearby area. The United States 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, live bird markets and in migratory wild
bird populations.

USDA will be informing the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) as well as
international trading partners of this finding. USDA also continues to communicate with trading
partners to encourage adherence to OIE standards and minimize trade impacts. OIE trade
guidelines call on countries to base trade restrictions on sound science and, whenever possible,
limit restrictions to those animals and animal products within a defined region that pose a risk of
spreading disease of concern.

These virus strains can travel in wild birds without them appearing sick. People should
avoid contact with sick/dead poultry or wildlife. If contact occurs, wash your hands with soap and
water and change clothing before having any contact with healthy domestic poultry and birds.

All bird owners, whether commercial producers or backyard enthusiasts, should continue
to practice good biosecurity, prevent contact between their birds and wild birds, and report sick
birds or unusual bird deaths to State/Federal officials, either through their 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 http://healthybirds.aphis.usda.gov.


...

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/stakeholders/downloads/2015/sa_hpai_missouri.pdf

[Pathfinder]

Cargill affected by spread of avian flu

Article by: MIKE HUGHLETT , Star Tribune Updated: March 11, 2015 - 6:04 PM

Avian flu has been reported in two more states beyond Minnesota, including at a central Missouri farm raising birds for Cargill, one of the country?s biggest turkey producers.
...
?Everybody is on full alert because obviously this has a high mortality rate,? said Mike Martin, a Cargill spokesman. ?It?s not exclusive to Cargill. It?s industrywide.?
...
At the Fortuna, Mo., farm that raises turkeys for Cargill, a flock of 12,000 birds spread across two barns was almost completely wiped out in about two days, Martin said.

...With an animal virus, producers must be careful the bug isn?t spread from farm to farm by workers, suppliers or equipment.

Cargill also tested all of its nearly 80 turkey flocks within a 12-mile radius of Fortuna. None tested positive for the flu, Martin said.
...

http://www.startribune.com/business/295988321.html