HPAI prevention requires ‘buckle-up’ mentality to biosecurity.

 

HPAI prevention requires ‘buckle-up’ mentality to biosecurity.  The only option for poultry farms to prevent an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is 100% adherence to biosecurity rules. 

 “You can be doing 99% of [biosecurity] correctly and somebody does one thing wrong and brings the disease into the farm,” reported Bret Rings, DVM, Cobb-Vantress. “Think of biosecurity as a chain — it is only as strong as the weakest link.” 

 Strengthening biosecurity requires building a culture that makes following protocols second nature for everyone on the farm. “It’s like a seat belt; it is protection that you use and do all the time because you never know when you will need it,” Rings said. “You never know when you will be exposed to HPAI and you need to protect your flock.” 

                Build a biosecurity culture.

 A biosecurity culture must be built into how producers do business every day, Rings explained, during a recent HPAI risk webinar hosted by the University of Arkansas. He recommended using communications and training to help transfer the importance of biosecurity to growers and farm staff: Communications – Biosecurity protocols must be communicated to everyone on the farm, from the grower to hourly employees.

The protocols should be clear, simple and based on scientific data. It’s important for everyone to understand protocols are to be followed consistently and with no exceptions. “You need to find creative ways to share that information, whether by a personal conversation, a one-page document, poster or meeting where you discuss the importance of biosecurity in today’s environment with HPAI taking place,” he said. 

 Training, training, training — In addition, regular training helps build the culture while reinforcing the correct way to follow biosecurity protocols. Rings suggested using small meetings or get-together with farm staff for the training. 

The training also shows staff that biosecurity is a priority. “It comes down to some persuasion and motivation,” he added. “Emphasize to farm workers that biosecurity is of utmost importance. The threat is real; it can happen to anyone, and it does.

The rise of Avian Influenza.

 

So far, 2022 has been a deadly year for the world’s birds. Avian influenza continues to rise, and this is hot on the heels of two years that the U.S. CDC says saw more outbreaks than the previous four years combined. Each outbreak of avian influenza can have huge ramifications for animal and human welfare. And, of course, a devastating impact on the economy and global food security. 

Just a single outbreak in the Netherlands in 2003 cost an estimated 150 million euros and the culling of some 30 million birds. Right now, other countries – like the UK – are facing similar losses. A look at the current spread of avian influenza and the evolving discussion on vaccination. 

  Biosecurity and hygiene is currently the first line of defense against avian influenza in most countries. While this can limit exposure, this is not fool proof as outbreaks grow in size and scope each year. The U.S. CDC has reported that globally “there were more outbreaks reported in 2020-2021 than in the previous four years combined.” What’s more, viruses are cropping up in countries that have been clear of avian influenza for many years – like Canada. 

The CDC reports that, in December 2021, HPAI A (H5N1) viruses were detected in birds in Newfoundland. This is the first identification of this virus in the Americas since June 2015. Vaccines have been considered as a potential control measure against avian influenza, but these are often not widely available or used in many markets. There has been some recent discussion about re-evaluating vaccination though. 

 According to Julien Denormandie the French agriculture minister,There is “no other solution in the long term than to have vaccination.”  Vaccines are often not used due to concerns about trade disruptions. 

In the past, export bans have been enforced on countries with vaccination policies. This is due to concerns such as not being able to differentiate vaccinated animals from infected animals, which occurs if a vaccine is not a 'DIVA vaccine'. DIVA vaccines and diagnostics :DIVA stands for Differentiating Infected from Vaccinated Animals. For Avian influenza, this can be achieved by using a vaccine based on a different strain (e.g. H5N2) than the current field strain (e.g. H5N1) and using a serological test that can differentiate between vaccine-induced antibodies (e.g. against N2) and antibodies against the field virus (N1).

  Current thoughts on whether there may be scope for vaccination in the future:

 The loss of millions of birds is a significant welfare issue that requires considering all avenues of prevention. 

 The Poultry Veterinary Study Group of the EU published a paper in October calling for an ‘open-minded evaluation’ of vaccines, saying it would ‘offer better protection to poultry'. 

 The French minister of agriculture sees vaccination as a long-term, viable solution in the face of rising losses. Though it may be too late to mitigate the impact of the current outbreaks, vaccination could become a future prevention measure alongside alongside biosecurity and other tools. 

 The info graphic below shows the impact of Avian Influenza in 2021.

Avian Influenza: Effective Biosecurity is Critical to Prevention.

 

Avian Influenza: Effective Biosecurity is Critical to Prevention.Avian influenza (AI) is a very important infectious disease of both poultry and other birds caused by influenza type A viruses. Although multiple viral strains exist, the disease appears in two forms, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI). 

 The distinction between pathogenicity of a particular avian influenza virus is based upon its potential to result in severe disease in poultry and the presence of specific genetic attributes that contribute to this virulence. 

 In both poultry and wild birds, LPAI may present either sub clinically or as mild respiratory disease. This form of the disease in poultry might be observed as sneezing, coughing, and nasal or ocular discharge with a negative impact on productivity despite mortality remaining low. 

 As a natural reservoir for avian influenza, wild birds in many cases may not exhibit any clinical signs, even in the event of HPAI infection. Poultry may experience mortality rates approaching 100% during a HPAI outbreak and exhibit clinical signs such as lethargy, severe respiratory distress leading to cyanosis, edema and hemorrhage in tissues of the head, legs, internal organs, muscles, neurologic deficits, and diarrhea.

 Avian influenza viruses have a predilection for the intestinal and respiratory tracts of the bird, therefore oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs are common diagnostic samples submitted to detect this pathogen.Get the guide.

Strategies for addressing biosecurity procedures and challenges: rodent clean out guide for poultry producers.

 Rodent clean out guide for poultry producers.

The following guide includes step-by-step recommendations for the control of mice, Norway rats, and roof rats in and around poultry facilities during the bird clean-out phase of production. 

The guide includes a full list of apparatus, personal protective equipment and rodent control products required to effectively control rodents at your facility. Neogen

Russians destroy US$8.5 million worth of MHP poultry.

 

A warehouse rented by Ukrainian poultry company MHP was destroyed by a fire caused by shelling from Russian forces, causing the company to lose about US$8.5 million worth of poultry products. 

 According to a press release published on the London Stock Exchange website, a fire broke out at the warehouse in Kvitneve, Ukraine, due to shelling by the occupying forces on March 12. 

Frozen chicken products from MHP were in the warehouse, which is the largest cold storage facility in Ukraine. The press release stated that no warehouse workers were injured. 

 According to the release, this is not the first food warehouse in the Kyiv and surrounding Ukrainian regions be destroyed by the Russian occupiers in recent days. In addition, the Russian forces are further jeopardizing food security in Ukraine by disrupting logistical operations. 

 Presently, around 8,500 metric tons of poultry, which has a potential financial impact of more than US$ 20 million, is at risk where MHP has a limited access to the warehouses in the southern regions of Ukraine and in the Kyiv region, primarily due to destroyed infrastructure supporting roads and railways. MHP stated that it continues to focus on the care and wellbeing of the people of Ukraine. 

Currently, MHP has a key responsibility in the food security of the country and it continues its operations despite substantial difficulties in supply chain and logistics. MHP said it fully understands how important poultry production is for Ukraine and its population at such difficult times.

UK researchers: Watch for emerging, more infectious strains of avian flu virus.

 

Poultry producers worldwide should be on the alert for emerging strains of avian influenza virus that are either more transmissible or cause more severe disease than prior strains. 

 According to researchers led by The Pirbright Institute in the UK, infection with two strains of avian flu also could lead to the emergence of a new virus strain with the potential to jump from birds to humans.

 One study, published in the Journal of Virology, was conducted after a low-pathogenic H7N9 strain of avian influenza virus emerged in 2013 through genetic reassortment between an H9N2 strain and other low-pathogenic strains. 

The new H7N9 strain caused inapparent clinical disease in chickens, but zoonotic transmission caused severe and fatal disease in humans. 

Pirbright researchers looked at a natural reassortment scenario between H7N9 and a G1-lineage H9N2 virus predominant in India and across the Middle East. 

 Shared genetic information.

 According to Pirbright researchers, the study shows that avian influenza virus strains H9N2 and H7N9 can share genetic information to create an H9N9 strain with the potential to cause more severe disease in poultry and pose a threat to human health.

Lockdown mode urged with avian flu outbreaks in Mississippi and Central Flyways.

 

A warning to tighten up biosecurity and reduce movement in and out of poultry houses was issued by Terry Conger, DVM, poultry health epidemiologist with USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). The warning came as outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) occurred along the Mississippi Flyway for migratory waterfowl. Earlier HPAI outbreaks were reported along the Atlantic Flyway, which can mingle with the Mississippi Flyway. 

Outbreaks in both areas involved commercial and non-commercial poultry operations. And recently, outbreaks were reported in the Central and Pacific flyways. “Migratory waterfowl and other wild birds play a major role in introducing the [HPAI] infection into flocks, and once in a facility, it can spread like wildfire through the movement of fomites,” Conger said. 

He spoke during a recent University of Arkansas Ag Research and Extension webinar on HPAI. 

     H5N1 strain involved. 

 The latest HPAI outbreaks in the US are caused by the serotype H5N1, known as the Eurasia strain. Conger said H5N1 is an ongoing, rapidly spreading strain that has been prominent in Europe, Asia and Africa. 

The first HPAI H5N1 outbreak in the Western Hemisphere occurred Dec. 23, 2021, in Newfoundland and has continued to spread into the US. “Due to the perpetual risk of HPAI from waterfowl, the only preventive tool we can rest our hopes on is stringent biosecurity,” Conger said. “Contract growers and non-commercial flock owners must buy into biosecurity to protect their individual flocks because HPAI is here,” he added. 

“Biosecurity must become a part of life if you oversee a commercial or backyard flock. It must be as automatic as eating and sleeping.” 

 Biosecurity breakdowns.

. While migratory waterfowl are the most common initial source of HPAI infection, human error is also responsible for spreading it into flocks through breakdowns in biosecurity. “Infection can occur by the movement of contaminated equipment, vehicles, service personnel, visitors and pests including rodents and insects,” 

Conger said. “Less common are domestic pigs and pet birds. “Once the virus is in a facility, it can move very quickly on shared equipment and contaminated clothing,” he said. “This is how it exploded in Minnesota and Iowa in 2015.” Personnel in commercial flocks who take steps to tighten up biosecurity are more likely to keep the virus out.