Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

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

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • 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

    News release:

    Oregon activates avian influenza response plan
    NEWS RELEASE, PLANTS, ANIMALS, INSECTS DECEMBER 19TH, 2014 17 VIEWS

    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 1-866-968-2600.

    ????-

    Media contact: Bruce Pokarney, ODA, (503) 986-4559


  • #2
    USA - H5N8 Found in Backyard Poultry in Oregon - USDA

    Oregon


    H5N8 Found in Backyard Poultry in Oregon

    Virus not found in commercial poultry in U.S.

    No public health concern at this time


    WASHINGTON, 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.

    Service 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.

    USDA -
    ?Addressing chronic disease is an issue of human rights ? that must be our call to arms"
    Richard Horton, Editor-in-Chief The Lancet

    ~~~~ Twitter:@GertvanderHoek ~~~ GertvanderHoek@gmail.com ~~~

    Comment


    • #3
      H5N2 or H5N8?

      Avian flu found in wild mallard at Fern Ridge
      No human health risk but falcons, hawks may be susceptible to virus
      Jan. 14, 2015

      SALEM, Ore.--Avian influenza strain HPAI H5N2 has been found in a mallard harvested by a hunter at Fern Ridge Wildlife Area near Eugene, Ore. The virus strain, known as H5N8, poses no immediate threat to human health. It has been circulating in Europe and East Asia and has not made people sick.

      The female mallard was sampled Dec. 20, 2014 as part of routine testing by ODFW, USDA/APHIS, USGS and USFWS. Testing for high path avian influenza is done at several labs including the OSU Veterinary Diagnostic Lab in Corvallis. However, further confirmation regarding the strain of bird flu virus requires special testing at the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa.

      ODFW was notified of positive test results for the HPAI H5N2 found in the Fern Ridge mallard yesterday. It is the same strain that was detected in a pintail duck in northwestern Washington state last month.

      The strain has not caused noticeable disease for Oregon?s wild waterfowl, which have evolved with the virus and usually do not get sick. The mallard did not show signs of sickness and there have been no reports of any recent waterfowl die-offs related to avian influenza anywhere in North America.

      This detection follows a December detection of another avian influenza strain, HPAI H5N8, in backyard poultry near Winston, Ore. It marks the second highly pathogenic avian influenza virus identified in Oregon.

      The detection is not a surprise for wildlife managers. ?After seeing initial results from other states, we suspected the HPAI strains (H5N2 and H5N8) would be found in wild waterfowl in Oregon,? said Brandon Reishus, ODFW migratory bird coordinator. ?California has also documented the virus in waterfowl and it has been found as far west as Davis County, Utah.?

      This time of year, migratory waterbirds (ducks, geese, shorebirds) are on wintering areas throughout the Pacific Flyway, which extends from Alaska to South America. In the coming months these birds will migrate back to nesting areas to the north, potentially spreading the virus to new areas. Wild birds can pass the influenza virus to their species or other bird species inhabiting shared wetlands or through predator and prey interactions.
      While this strain often does not sicken waterfowl, it may be a threat to falcons and hawks, which can exhibit symptoms and die. ODFW is advising falconers to refrain from hunting wild waterfowl or feeding their birds wild waterfowl meat or organ tissue. More information is available at ODFW?s falconry webpage. Oregon has 130 licensed falconers.

      Wildlife managers will continue to test wild birds in Oregon for avian influenza. For more information on avian influenza in wild birds, visit USGS National Wildlife Health Center.

      http://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/disease_inf...ian_influenza/
      ?Addressing chronic disease is an issue of human rights ? that must be our call to arms"
      Richard Horton, Editor-in-Chief The Lancet

      ~~~~ Twitter:@GertvanderHoek ~~~ GertvanderHoek@gmail.com ~~~

      Comment


      • #4
        News release: Avian influenza detected in Deschutes County flock of backyard birds


        NEWS RELEASE, PLANTS, ANIMALS, INSECTS
        FEBRUARY 14TH, 2015
        16 VIEWS


        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.
        Oregonians are reminded that the HPAI virus strains currently detected in Oregon and the other states represent low risk to public health. The virus has not been detected in commercial poultry operations in Oregon, Washington, or Idaho. 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.

        Backyard bird owners are encouraged to practice good biosecurity and to take steps that prevent contact between their birds and wild birds. They also should monitor their flock closely and report sick or dead birds to ODA at 1-800-347-7028. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is asking people to report wild bird deaths by calling 1-866-968-2600. People should avoid contact with sick or dead wild and domestic birds.

        For more information on avian influenza and biosecurity measures, go to <http://bit.do/ORbirdflu>.

        http://odanews.wpengine.com/news-rel...ackyard-birds/

        "Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
        -Nelson Mandela

        Comment

        Working...
        X