Protecting the U.S. From Asian Bird Flu

What Is Asian Bird Flu?
The type of avian influenza occurring in Asia is called H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1 HPAI). It is being spread by migrating wild birds and illegal smuggling in Asia, Europe and Africa. The H5N1 strain is also deadly when introduced into

How Does It Spread?
Infected migratory birds (primarily waterfowl) have been carrying the disease from infected areas to new locations as they migrate. Because Alaska is at the cross roads of bird migration flyways, scientists believe the Asian bird flu will most likely arrive there. If it spreads to North America via migratory birds. The testing of migratory birds is being signifi cantly increased in 2006. The USDA and its cooperators (including the State of Delaware and the University of Delaware) plan to collect and test samples from wild birds known to be susceptible to avian influenza virus infections.

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How Is the U.S. Being Protected from the Asian Bird Flu?
Surveillance is being performed in wild birds to detect H5N1. Routine monitoring is also being done in commercial and non-commercial backyard poultry. Enhanced biosecurity and rapid containment plans for poultry, if needed, have been developed by State and Federal agricultural agencies and the poultry industry to safeguard the United States against H5N1 HPAI.

What is the U.S. government doing to protect consumers and
poultry flocks against H5N1 HPAI?
Although H5N1 HPAI is not present and has never been reported in the U.S., the USDA has imposed restrictions on the importation of poultry and poultry products to prevent the introduction of H5N1into the U.S. these restrictions include:

Prohibiting the importation of live birds and hatching eggs from
H5N1 HPAI affected countries
Requiring imports from affected countries to be processed or
cooked according to USDA guidelines
Requiring all imported birds (from non- H5N1 affected
countries) to be quarantined at a USDA bird quarantine facility
and tested for AI before entering the U.S.
Checking international travelers for illegal importation of live
birds and illegal poultry products
Published an “Interim Avian Infl uenza (AI) Response Plan” in
January 2006

Finally the U.S Government has developed a National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza involving the USDA, the Dept. of Health & Human Services, the Dept. of Interior and the Dept. of Homeland Security.

For further information please visit these websites:

What is Being Done Locally on Delmarva in Poultry?
Low pathogenic avian infl uenza (LPAI) broke out on three farms on Delmarva in 2004. Good planning, prompt diagnosis, fast action (establishment of farm quarantine zones, rapid depopulation, inhouse composting and proper decontamination) prevented further spread. Team work involving the State and Federal governments, the
poultry industry, the trade group Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc., and the Universities of Delaware and Maryland made this work so well. The diagnostic laboratories at the University of Delaware (Lasher Laboratory, Georgetown and Allen Laboratory, Newark) were especially important using the latest rapid technologies to detect avian infl uenza.
The experience gained during the 2004 outbreak is extremely useful in planning for future outbreaks.

Currently all commercial broiler flocks on Delmarva are being
tested and confi rmed AI negative, before going to processing.
Mandatory registration of poultry flocks is now required in
Delaware and Maryland to be able to help prevent and contain AI,
in the event of an outbreak.
The Delmarva chicken industry has an aggressive biosecurity
program in place to prevent avian infl uenza virus from getting into
their chicken houses.
Avian infl uenza research is being performed at the University of
Delaware for the purpose of better controlling the disease.
The “Team” mentioned above, is constantly improving the
emergency disease response plan.

Important Fact:

Eating poultry meat and eggs is safe. AI is caused by a virus and is killed by the heat of cooking. There is no danger of getting AI from properly cooked poultry.