INVESTIGATING BIRD FLU.

 Look out for these signs:

Sudden onset of high mortality.

Bluish-purplish comb and wattle

Purplish shanks,

Swollen and shut eyelids.

 In case of outbreak;

Do not treat.

Do not vaccinate.

Cordon off your farm.

 Call your vet.

BIRD FLU.

Avian influenza is a deadly viral infection that have been ravaging poultry farms around the world.The rate of spread of the virus is very alarming, and although wild birds have been implicated in the spread of the virus,contamination and contact are routes for persistence of the virus in and around farms. The role of bio security in the prevention and curbing of spread of infection on farms cannot be over emphasized,the bio security protocol must be simple,easily adaptable and measurable.The simplicity of the protocol will ensure strict compliance, the bio security measures include the following; 1) Do not allow visitors to your farm. 2) vehicles coming into the farm area must pass through a vat filled with disinfectants or the vehicle is hosed down with disinfectants . 3) The farm area must be cordoned off and must have foot dips at entrance. 4)The farm hands must enter the farm site from an entrance then go to cloak room to change into clean disinfected farm wear. 5)The tools and personal wear must be washed daily and disinfected. 6) The drinkers must be cleaned and disinfected. 7) floors drains and working surfaces are to be cleaned and disinfected. 8)isolate new birds to farms ,in a separate section of farm. 9) The birds can also be sprayed in the cages using disinfectants. 10)The water source must be clean and cool, ensure the purity of water source by treating with chemicals. 11)Litter management is very important,scrap and pack litter and dispose properly. 12) Proper disposal of dead birds, and other waste matter from the farm. 13) The farm environs must be clean and devoid of grasses,or stagnant pools. 14)The disinfectants used in foot dips must be changed at regular intervals. Bird flu is indeed deadly and zoonotic depending on the strain of virus involved.The first major sign is high mortality of sudden onset,then bluish-purplish combs,shanks and crop region,swollen lids and diarrhea. When you observe any of such signs,do not start treating or vaccinating; just restrict access to your farm and notify your vet.

BIRD FLU # AVIAN INFLUENZA.

Avian influenza still trending in certain countries like Ghana,United kingdom,United states,Israel,Taiwan, China and Nigeria.The infections in most countries are of various strain with varied virulence.The outbreaks have been controlled by depopulation of birds in affected farms,fumigation of affected poultry,quarantine of 3km radius for farms in vicinity of affected sites. Farmers are advised to report cases of bird flu to necessary authority.The common signs of bird flu are sudden death,swollen wattles and combs,purplish shanks,ruffled feathers and inappetence. The cases with low virulence normally show ruffled feathers,soft shelled eggs and decrease/absence of egg laying.The virus has been linked to migratory birds and wet waterlogged areas such as areas close to rivers,lakes e.t.c. bio security protocol must be strictly adhered to, the sequence of isolation/quarantine and disinfection must be the rule of thumb in the poultry.The common disinfectants recommended in cases of outbreaks are virkon and virocid,these have been tested and proven to kill the avian influenza virus.