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3. Poultry Producers Tighten Security [OH - edited]
By: Ed Lentz
The Courier
January 26, 2016
After a quiet fall, an avian influenza virus again has been detected in commercial poultry, this time in southern Indiana.
It is important the nation keeps the domestic poultry population free from avian flu to avoid international trade problems. To address this concern, the poultry industry learned from 2015 the importance of quickly detecting the virus, killing infected flocks and disinfecting barns, and disposal of dead birds to control the disease.
The strategy is also to impose 21 days of down time with confirmed negative testing before repopulating the barns.
Ohio poultry producers are asked again to tighten biosecurity measures to reduce the chance of direct contact between infected and uninfected birds, and indirectly by objects that have come in contact with diseased birds, such as people, rodents, pets, feed, vehicles, and equipment.
Mohamed El-Gazzar, Ohio State University Extension poultry veterinarian, recommends the following practices:
* Minimize direct contact with infected birds.
* Avoid contact between your flock and other birds, wild and domestic, especially around open water and pastures.
* Prevent mixing between species within the same flocks, such as ducks, geese, and chickens, and between multiple ages of the same species.
* Purchase birds from National Poultry Improvement Plan disease-free sources.
* Quarantine new birds for a week before mixing with the rest of the flock.
* If you show birds, such as at fairs, quarantine for a week before returning to the main flock. Last year the Ohio Department of Agriculture banned shows to prevent the potential spread of the disease. It is considering the same thing after the outbreak in southern Indiana.
Practices to minimize indirect contact:
* Do not allow outside people to visit your flock. They could inadvertently carry the disease on their clothes, shoes, hands, or other objects brought with them.
* Dedicate specific clothes and shoes while working with your flock.
* Use disposable coveralls, gloves and shoe covers when working with your flock.
* Wash your hands before and after handling birds and their surroundings, including feed and water.
* Establish a hand-sanitizing station near the flock for use each time the poultry house is entered or exited.
* Do not allow pets near the flock.
* Animal-proof your poultry house, especially against birds and rodents.
* Acquire feed from trusted sources and properly store in a secure place safe from other animals.
* Drinking water should be the same quality as used by humans. Surface water from rivers, ponds, or puddles may contain the virus left by migratory wild birds.
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