Texans plan for bird flu

On The Farm: Bird flu must be detected early in commercial flocks

By ERIC ZIMMERMAN
Special to the Eagle

Headlines about bird flu, or avian influenza, have raised concerns from the general public about this as well as other foreign animal diseases.

Avian influenza is a virus that usually affects only birds. It circulates among the wild bird population and sometimes pigs. And, as with other flu viruses, it can change or mutate. Some avian influenza strains come in one of two strengths, known as pathogenicity, or the ability to sicken or kill birds. Low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) may not be apparent or may make birds slightly ill. On the other hand, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) may make birds very sick or cause fatalities.

GUIDELINES

A bird can die from a variety of diseases, but it is best to follow a few simple rules when disposing of it.

• Don't touch a dead bird with your bare hands.

• Place a plastic bag over your hand and pick it up, enclosing it in the bag.

• Always wash your hands afterward.

The highly visible bird flu in the news is a highly pathogenic H5N1 strain, which has not been detected in the United States.

Avian influenza or its pathogenicity cannot be determined by looking at a sick bird. In fact, there are numerous diseases or conditions that can cause birds to become ill or die. To determine the cause, lab tests must be conducted on blood, tissue or fecal material from a potentially infected bird.

Wild waterfowl are the natural host for the avian influenza virus. Since 1998, more than 12,000 migratory birds and waterfowl have been tested in Alaska. All tests have been negative for H5N1.

Texas is part of the central flyway, and the USDA's Wildlife Services and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will collect several thousand samples from targeted species. In all, more than 100,000 wild birds will be sampled in the United States during 2006.

It is important to test for bird flu in commercial flocks early enough to prevent an outbreak. Commercially produced poultry are raised indoors and protected from contact with wild birds. Biosecurity measures are employed at all commercial poultry houses. These measures include disinfecting boots and tools prior to entering poultry houses, restricting visitor access and cleaning vehicle tires at the farm gate.

Routine disease surveillance for avian influenza is performed on commercial flocks. Since 1995, the Texas commercial poultry industry submitted more than 200,000 samples yearly to the Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory. In 2004, two strains of avian influenza (not H5N1) were detected in the state. The Texas Animal Health Commission and the Texas USDA staff responded immediately to quarantine the flocks and eliminate the infection.

HPAI H5N1 has been detected in about 50 countries. Animal health officials in many countries follow procedures similar to those used by the United States.

Since 2003, about 200 people have contracted the HPAI H5N1 virus. Nearly all had extensive direct contact with sick or dead birds or consumed improperly prepared products from sick birds. Human-to-human transmission has not been documented. Lack of biosecurity, extreme crowding and cultural practices may contribute to the transmission of HPAI H5N1 to humans.

As of late May, about 50 human cases had been confirmed in Indonesia, a country roughly three times the size of Texas but with 245 million citizens and more than 780 million poultry - mostly in small backyard flocks. In contrast, Texas has 23 million residents, and most of the state's 100 million poultry are produced commercially.

A dead bird in your yard should not cause undue concern. However, because birds may die from a variety of causes, don't touch it with bare hands. Place a plastic bag over your hand and pick up the bird, enclosing it in the bag and disposing of it in the garbage. Always wash your hands thoroughly afterward.

For more information or to report unusual illness or deaths in your flock, call the Texas Animal Health Commission at 1-800-550-8242.