OSU Extension warns poultry owners

OSU Extension 

OSU Extension animal health specialists caution poultry producers to protect their flocks after Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza was confirmed in a commercial operation earlier this month in Adair County.

The HPAI virus is more common during the spring and fall seasons when migratory birds are active. The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry has established a control area in Adair and Delaware counties to manage the spread of the infection. 

Rosslyn Biggs, OSU Extension veterinarian, said additional testing of commercial and domestic flocks is underway in the surrounding control zone of northeast Oklahoma. Also, a surveillance zone that extends past the immediate control area has been identified to determine if the virus is isolated to one site or active in multiple locations. 

“There are also restrictions and quarantines in that control zone of poultry and poultry products to make sure that if we do have it beyond the one premises, we’re not extending it or sending it somewhere else,” Biggs said. 

Oklahoma poultry industry leaders and ODAFF, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, have activated their avian influenza emergency plans.

 “They practice for these types of events,” Biggs said. “The Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory is on point, as well as their counterparts in Arkansas, to get tests run as soon as they receive animals from these locations.” 

Biggs said HPAI is a year-round concern, but risk is enhanced this time of year.

“We want to make sure that all of our flocks, whether they’re large or small operations, have stepped up their biosecurity, particularly in light of this announcement,” she said. “If we have individuals who are hunting migratory waterfowl like ducks and geese, we want to make sure there are appropriate precautions, that they’re not bringing it home and exposing domestic poultry at their households.” 

Biggs said HPAI will almost always cause very sudden death in birds. 

“First and foremost in many cases, there will be a flock that is relatively normal one day, and then there are significant deaths the next day,” she said. 

Signs and Symptoms

• Coughing and sneezing
• Nasal discharge
• diarrhea
• Difficulty breathing
• Extreme depression
• Lack of energy
• Decrease in feed or water intake
• Swelling or purple discoloration of head, eyelids, comb, wattle and legs
• Decrease in egg production or misshapen eggs
• Sudden unexplained death
• Quietness among the flock  

Preventative Biosecurity Measures

• Restrict visitor access to birds
• Prevent contact with wild birds (especially waterfowl)
• Refrain from visiting other poultry operation locations
• Set aside clothing and footwear to wear only when working with birds
• Disinfect footwear before entering a barn or coop
• Wash hands with soap and water before and after handling birds
• Reduce availability of food, water and any potential nesting areas for wild birds
• Fix holes in roofs, screens and walls of poultry barns or coops
• Do not share equipment with other bird owners
• Birds that have been near other poultry should be quarantined from the rest of the flock for at least 14 days 

If poultry owners suspect their flock has been exposed to the virus in any way, they should report the animal and ask for assistance in additional diagnostics by calling the ODAFF disease alert number at 405-522-6141. 

HPAI Resources

• OSU Extension HPAI Fact Sheet
• HPAI information from ODAFF
• ODAFF Disease Alerts
• HPAI information from the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
• OSU Extension Backyard Chicken Online Course 

Watch Biggs discuss the latest case of HPAI on SUNUP, the production agriculture television show of OSU Agriculture.

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