APHIS is enhancing its bird flu surveillance game.Possibility of sporadic human infections

The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) claims to have the most powerful bird flu monitoring program in the world. The monitoring system has been tested for the last 30 days. This is because highly pathogenic avian influenza has been found scattered throughout the United States in backyard herds and large-scale commercial poultry surgery.

And APHIS chose to enhance the game.

These 2022 outbreaks are still far from what APHIS experienced in 2014-15, when it oversaw the destruction of 51 million birds to curb the spread of H5N2 bird flu in the United States.

However, it cannot be said that bird killing records are safe.

Since the return of bird flu to the United States, APHIS has expanded bird flu surveillance to the Mississippi River and the Central Flyway. Existing surveillance of the Atlantic and Pacific Flyways has also been raised.

This means that the APHIS National Wildlife Disease Program, which collects 15,500 samples from birds in 25 states, is adding an additional 14,500 samples from Mississippi and the Central Region.

“Collecting surveillance sampling on all four flyways will help efforts to better understand the presence of the variant of concern and help monitor the movement of avian influenza strains along the path of travel. “Masu,” said the APHIS statement.

APHIS is working with the state’s Wildlife and Natural Resources Department to increase vigilance and investigate wild bird morbidity and mortality events.

Anyone who has a backyard herd in a commercial poultry producer is encouraged to review their biosecurity plans and practices. Owners need to keep their birds away from wild birds.

This is a summary of recent APHIS reports confirming the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the United States.

January 14 –

• A wild American wigeon containing the Eurasian H5 strain of bird flu was found in Collection County, South Carolina.

February 9 –

• In Dubois County, Indiana, the first outbreak of bird flu in a commercial herd in 2022 struck a commercial turkey farm.

February 14-

• In Fulton County, Kentucky, a flock of commercial broiler chickens is being attacked.
• In Fauquier County, Virginia, a herd of mixed bird backyards indicates the disease.

February 19 –

• In Suffolk County, New York, a herd of non-profit backyards has been found to be infected with the flu.

February 20 –

• In Knox County, Maine, herds of non-profit backyards are positive.

Between 2014 and 2015, U.S. poultry and egg producers experienced the largest outbreak of H5N2 in recorded history, with approximately 51 million birds depopulated to control the spread of the disease. .. Between May and June 2015, 25 million birds were killed. That’s 409,836 birds per day, or 284 birds per minute. In total, the 2014-2015 H5N2 / H5N8 outbreak cost US $ 879 million in public spending to eradicate the disease from poultry production. The most expensive US HPAI outbreak to date.

The United States has the most powerful bird flu monitoring program in the world. Through an ongoing wild bird surveillance program, APHIS will collect and test a large number of samples from wild birds on the North American Flyway. It is not uncommon to detect bird flu in wild birds, as the bird flu virus circulates freely in those populations without the birds appearing ill. APHIS monitors commercial and backyard bird viruses in addition to monitoring bird flu in wild bird populations.

Due to the recent detection of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) Eurasian H5 strain in wild birds and poultry in the United States, bird owners have reviewed their biosecurity practices and have been vigilant to protect poultry and pet birds from the disease. Please do not. APHIS works closely with state partners on monitoring, reporting, and management efforts.

When it comes to human health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says bird flu is a minimal risk to people. “Avian influenza A virus usually does not infect humans, but some avian influenza A viruses have sporadic infections. Human illnesses caused by avian influenza A virus infection range from asymptomatic, mild illnesses to fatal severe illnesses.

“Human infections with avian influenza A virus most frequently occur after direct unprotected contact with infected birds and their secretions and excrement-contaminated surfaces. Five sub-subs of avian influenza A virus. The type infected people to cause respiratory disease (H5, H6, H7, H9, and H10 viruses). Of these, the H5N1 and H7N9 viruses caused the majority of people’s infections. For more information on bird flu infections in humans, please visit: Avian influenza A virus infection in humans. “