Historic, Archive Document Do not assume content reflects current scientific knowledge, policies, or practices. aSF995 .6 lited States Department of Agriculture .I6P76 limal and Plant Health Inspection Service 2011 ogram Aid No. 2079 Important Information for Backyard Poultry Owners Protect Your Birds From Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) How Does Bird Flu Spread? HPAI spreads quickly by direct, bird-to-bird contact. The disease can also spread indirectly, for example, when birds come in contact with contaminated surfaces or materials. Migratory waterfowl (i.e., wild ducks and geese), smuggled poultry and poultry products, and the movement of poultry, poultry equipment, and people are potential sources for introducing the disease to domestic birds. The bird flu virus can travel on manure, egg flats, crates, other farming materials/equipment, and people who have picked up the virus on their clothing, shoes, or hands. USDA file photo Polly Berkenstock Allowing backyard flocks to come Fencing your bird area can help in contact with wild birds could put keep your flock safe from predators them at risk for infectious poultry and from contact with other birds diseases such as HPAI. that could spread disease. Deanna Stinnet talejeathers. com Don't share equipment, tools, or Migratory waterfowl could potentially poultry supplies with neighbors introduce HPAI to your birds. So be or other bird owners. If you must, sure they don't share a water source disinfect these items before bring¬ with your birds, and keep your birds' ing them home. food protected. — -- _ . , n How USDA Works To Keep How Can You Protect Your Birds? hpai out of the country HPAI is a threat to U.S. poultry. The United States is the world's largest producer and exporter of poultry meat and the second largest egg producer. Total U.S. poultry production is valued at nearly $32 billion annually. A major outbreak of HPAI would be costly to the poultry industry, consumers, and taxpayers and could harm backyard flocks as well. To protect the U.S. poultry population, USDA quar¬ antines and tests live birds imported into the United States to ensure that they do not have any foreign animal diseases such as HPAI. USDA also maintains trade restrictions on poultry and poultry products from countries and/or regions where HPAI has been detected in commercial or traditionally raised poultry. Six simple steps can 3 Don't haul disease home. Buy birds from repu¬ table sources so you know you're getting healthy help keep your birds—and birds. Keep new birds separate from the rest of your Surveillance is another important part of USDA's flock for at least 30 days. If your birds have been to efforts to protect the health of U.S. flocks. IjSDA those of your neighbors- a fair or exhibition, keep them separated from your monitors for illegally smuggled poultry and poultry flock for 2 weeks after the event. products through an anti-smuggling program in free of disease. 4. Don't borrow disease from your neighbors. coordination with the U.S. Department of Homeland Do not share garden equipment or poultry supplies Security's Customs and Border Protection. In addition, with your neighbors or other bird owners. If you do USDA works with a nationwide network of Federal 1. Kanede py oyuoru bri rddiss. tIafn vcisei.t oRrse shtraivcet abcicrdess so tfo t hyeoiur ro pwronp, edroty bberifnogre t htheesey irteeamcsh hyoomure p, rcolpeearnt ya.n d disinfect them and State partners, university personnel, USDA- not let them near your birds. Your birds should not accredited veterinarians, and industry members have contact with wild birds and migratory waterfowl 5. Know the warning signs. Early detection can help to monitor for HPAI in key areas of the country's because they can carry germs and diseases. prevent the spread of disease. While it may be hard to bird population. These areas include live bird tell if your bird has AI, when you check your birds fre¬ 2. Keep it clean. Wash your hands thoroughly before quently, you may be able to tell if something is wrong. markets, commercial flocks, backyard flocks, and and after working with your birds. Wear clean clothes migratory birds. and scrub your shoes with disinfectant. Clean and 6. Report sick birds. Don't wait. If your birds are disinfect equipment, including cages and tools, that sick or dying, call your local cooperative extension comes in contact with your birds or their droppings. office, your veterinarian, or the State Veterinarian Remove manure before disinfecting equipment. or State animal/poultry diagnostic laboratory. Or call Properly dispose of dead birds. USDA toll free at 1-866-536-7593, and we'll put you in touch with a local contact who can help you. How USDA Works To Keep HPAI Out of the Country HPAI is a threat to U.S. poultry. The United States is the world's largest producer and exporter of poultry meat and the second largest egg producer. Total U.S. poultry production is valued at nearly $32 billion annually. A major outbreak of HPAI would be costly to the poultry industry, consumers, and taxpayers and could harm backyard flocks as well. To protect the U.S. poultry population, USDA quar¬ antines and tests live birds imported into the United States to ensure that they do not have any foreign animal diseases such as HPAI. USDA also maintains trade restrictions on poultry and poultry products from countries and/or regions where HPAI has been detected in commercial or traditionally raised poultry. Surveillance is another important part of USDA's efforts to protect the health of U.S. flocks. USDA monitors for illegally smuggled poultry and poultry products through an anti-smuggling program in coordination with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection. In addition, USDA works with a nationwide network of Federal and State partners, university personnel, USDA- accredited veterinarians, and industry members to monitor for HPAI in key areas of the country's bird population. These areas include live bird markets, commercial flocks, backyard flocks, and migratory birds. What Is Bird Flu? Avian influenza (AI), or "bird flu/' is a virus that infects domestic poultry, such as chickens, turkeys, quail, and geese, and wild birds such as shorebirds and waterfowl. AI viruses are divided into two groups-highly pathogenic (HPAI) and low pathogenic (LPAI)—based on the ability of the vims to produce disease and the severity of illness it can cause. HPAI spreads rapidly and has a high death rate in birds. LPAI causes only minor illness and occurs naturally in migratory waterfowl. The concern is that some LPAI vims strains are capable of mutating into HPAI vimses. HPAI viruses are considered exotic or foreign to the United States because they do not occur natu¬ rally here. HPAI has been detected and eradicated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) three times: in 1924, 1983, and 2004. The 1983 outbreak resulted in the deaths of about 17 million chickens, turkeys, and guinea fowl in Pennsylvania and Virginia. Managing this outbreak cost nearly $65 million and caused retail egg prices to increase by more than 30 percent. What Are the Signs of Bird Flu? HPAI can strike quickly and spread rapidly without any warning. When infected birds do show signs; here's what to look for: Lack of energy and appetite • • Decreased egg production and/or soft-shelled or misshapen eggs • Swelling of the head, eyelids, comb, wattles, and hocks • Purple discoloration of the wattles, combs, and legs • Runny nose, coughing, sneezing • Stumbling or falling down • Diarrhea • Sudden death without any clinical signs USDA file photo USDA file photo Purple discoloration of the comb Birds affected by HPAI could show could indicate HPAI. swelling of the head, wattles, combs, and face. USDA file photo USDA file photo Hemorrhaging of the skin and Nasal discharge (a runny nose) legs is just one of the signs birds can be a sign of HPAI. might exhibit when infected with the HPAI virus. NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL LIBRARY 023021961 Biosecurity For Birds is an outreach and education campaign to raise awareness among backyard poultry owners about the steps they can take to prevent AI and other infectious poultry diseases and what to do if they suspect a disease outbreak. More Information For information on keeping your birds healthy, visit USDA's Biosecurity For Birds Web site: http ://healthybirds .aphis .usda. gov For information about HPAI, contact: USDA/APHIS/Veterinary Services National Center for Animal Health Emergency Management 4700 River Road, Unit 41 Riverdale, MD 20737-1231 Phone: (301) 734-8073 Fax: (301) 734-7817 The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Issued May 2011 Cover image: USDA, Judy Rodriguez