Poultry

What is Avian Influenza?
Does it affect the chicken, turkey, or egg I eat?
What about my backyard flock of chickens?

Avian Influenza is a poultry disease that has flared up this spring, first in Pennsylvania, then Virginia and North Carolina. It could have very bad economic effects on the poultry industry even though it does not affect eggs or the chicken and turkey meat we eat.

In 2001, it was foot and mouth disease. We are still concerned with preventing foot and mouth disease. In 2002, a poultry disease is of great concern.

Avian Influenza was last a big United States problem over a decade ago. It has often been a problem in other parts of the world. The "fowl plague" first appeared in Italy in 1878. In recent years, Hong Kong has been most affected. Now, it has returned to North Carolina in turkeys, pen-raised quail, and backyard chicken flocks in Anson, Guilford, and Wilkes Counties.

You might recognize the "flu" word in Avian Influenza. Avian means "bird," so some call this the "bird flu." There are lots of different kinds of influenza viruses. Some affect people (flu season) and some affect birds or fowl. There are also over a dozen subtypes that affect birds. As with the flu in people, some birds get it worse than others. And, as with people, it can easily spread.

This is especially a problem with wild birds like ducks and geese. Waterfowl are more resistant to Avian Influenza, but they can carry the virus and spread it around, especially during migrating flight seasons.

The symptoms are similar to human flu, e.g., coughing, sneezing, diarrhea, and a ruffled look. As you might guess, sick birds do not eat, drink, grow, or lay eggs very well. Some weakened birds can suddenly die without warning.

There is no need to stop eating chicken, turkey, or eggs. Science shows the United States type Avian Influenza "bird flu" will not give humans the flu. In addition, birds that do get AI are generally quarantined and disposed. This is not because of a threat to humans, but because of the threat to other birds.

There was one strange and unique case of people and birds having the same subtype of flu virus during 1997 in Hong Kong. This seems to have been an isolated case in Hong Kong and has not occurred anywhere else. Current and past United States outbreaks of Avian Influenza are a completely different virus subtype from the Hong Kong flu.

Unlike some other diseases, vaccinating birds is not practical, because there are so many different subtypes of AI. Often, by the time a farmer notices birds acting like they have AI, it is too late to do anything. It is like when the doctor says, "Your flu has to run its course." This human strategy is not used for poultry. Quick identification, isolation, and eradication are the approach with most animal disease outbreaks.

Having to dispose of an AI infected flock can be very costly for a farmer with more than 20,000 birds per house/barn. Being grown in houses allows more protection, but strict biosecurity steps are followed to prevent AI from spreading from one farm to another. Farmers should not have visitors or go onto each other's farm. Don't think farmers are being mean or have something to hide because they close gates and put up signs. They are just trying to protect their birds - as we would take steps to try preventing getting the flu.

One of the easiest ways for AI to spread is through bird feces. The AI virus is easily killed by light and temperature, but a quarter-sized bird dropping can protect and store the virus. Bird-to-bird contact, sneezing, and the virus in the intestinal tract are all ways the virus can spread.

When a flock is found to have AI, all flocks within about two miles of the site are also tested and checked, as well as the source of the birds.

Detailed cleaning and sanitation of poultry houses and equipment are done to help prevent the spread of AI. Even poultry litter from AI infected flocks is composted (heat treated) and held in storage before land applied according to specific guidelines.

Backyard flock owners should pen their birds and try and control contact with wild birds and other flocks. Report any sick "flu-like" birds to your veterinarian or Extension office. Normally, you probably would not do this because losing a hen or two is not very costly. But it could help save a lot of other birds. The North Carolina Department of Agriculture will coordinate testing suspect birds free of charge.

A major outbreak of AI would be costly to the poultry industry, consumers, and taxpayers. Eradication of an AI outbreak that occurred during 1983 and 1984 in the northeastern United States took two years to control. AI resulted in the destruction of more than 17 million birds at a cost of nearly $65 million. This outbreak also caused retail egg prices to increase by more than 30 percent. The United States has not had a major outbreak of AI since 1986.

More than 4,400 farmers produce poultry (chickens and turkeys) and eggs in North Carolina. All poultry together is North Carolina's number one farm commodity valued at almost two and a quarter billion dollars. You can also add the impact of more than 25,000 North Carolina people employed in feed mills, processing plants, and hatcheries.

For more information, contact Dan Campeau by email at dan_campeau@ncsu.edu or go to Poultry in the Cooperative Extension Service

This page was posted by Susan Graham, Administrative Secretary
on 11/20/03.