Highly-Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Iowa Concern Hotline Frequently Asked Questions Updated :30pm

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1 Highly-Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Iowa Concern Hotline Frequently Asked Questions Updated :30pm Statement from Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship Department staff is coordinating containment and management of the facilities with the facility owners, Federal and State agencies, affected producers, and local communities. We have reached out to other state government agencies to discuss current actions that are being taken in response to confirmed cases in those states, actions that may need to be taken in the future, and resources that may be needed to address the needs of producers, affected businesses, and the public. The USDA s HPAI plan includes: Quarantine restricting movement of poultry and poultry-moving equipment into and out of the control area Eradicate humanely euthanizing the affected flock(s) Monitor region testing wild and domestic birds in a broad area around the quarantine area Disinfect kills the virus in the affected flock locations Test confirming that the poultry farm is AI virus-free. Health & Food Safety *There are no food safety concerns associated with HPAI. The risk to humans from H5N2 HPAI is low, as there has never been a reported case of infection There is no evidence that H5N2 HPAI can cause disease in mammals. Poultry on affected farms are prohibited from being processed or sold. Poultry and eggs should always be handled properly and cooked to an internal temperature of 170 F Referral Contact Information General Questions about Avian Influenza, Animal Health, Infected Sites USDA Veterinary Services (toll-free) To Report Sick Birds, Movement of Product and Permit Questions (inside or through affected areas) IDALS State Veterinarian: Animal Industry Bureau: AvianInfluenzaPermits@Iowaagriculture.gov Public Health, Food Safety, Physical Issues Department of Public Health - State Public Health Veterinarian & Deputy State Epidemiologist Impact to Wildlife, Natural Resources, or Recreation (Hunting and Fishing) Iowa Department of Natural Resources Economic, Regulatory and Industry Impact ISU Egg Industry Center answeb@iastate.edu

2 Frequently Asked Questions Q. What is Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza? A. Avian influenza (AI) is a viral disease that can affect bird species throughout the world. The disease can vary from mild to severe, depending on the virus strain involved. The most severe strain, called highly pathogenic avian influenza, is caused by viruses with H5 or H7 surface proteins. The strain affecting commercial poultry flocks in Iowa is H5N2. This strain has not been found in North America despite years of wild bird surveillance. Poultry are very susceptible to the disease and mortality can reach 100% in some flocks. In poultry housed on floors, HPAI can spread rapidly with peak mortality between % within 3-5 days. In poultry housed in cages, the virus spreads slower with peak mortality closer to 50-70% taking days. Q. How did HPAI get into Iowa? A. This H5N2 viral signature originates in waterfowl (ducks, geese, swans, gulls) and shorebirds (herons, egrets). Wild birds can carry up to 144 possible subtypes of avian influenza viruses, but rarely show disease or mortality. Iowa is in the Mississippi flyway migration route, used by as much as 40% of all North American waterfowl. Q. How is AI spread? A. In birds, avian influenza is spread by direct contact with fecal droppings or respiratory secretions of infected birds. The virus can also be spread by objects (e.g., shoes, clothing, equipment) contaminated with the virus. Airborne transmission is still being investigated, but the USDA states that high winds over 20 mph, moist conditions and cool temperatures aide in dust or feathers travel. Most infected sites are near bodies of water where waterfowl are present, while others are near infected sites. Detailed analysis of the virus is underway in cooperation with CDC and investigations are ongoing to evaluate risk factors for virus introductions into commercial facilities. Q. How long does the virus live and what destroys it? A. Avian influenza virus can live for seven days in bird feces. It can live indefinitely while in a frozen state. The virus is destroyed by heat and UV light. Lower humidity and dryness also reduce the viability of the virus. Q. Who should I contact, if I suspect an illness associated with contact with avian influenza? A. In Animals Contact your veterinarian immediately. In Humans Contact your physician. Inform him or her that you have had contact with birds with avian influenza. Q. How are infected domestic poultry being depopulated? A. State and federal agencies are encouraging the owners of the infected poultry to facilitate the depopulation of the site via approved and humane methods. Carbon Dioxide and Water-based Foam are approved and humane form of euthanasia to asphyxiate poultry. We have instructed the poultry owners to make food and water available to the poultry until they have been humanely depopulated. Q. How are the Depopulated poultry being contained and disposed? A. The birds will be disposed of using a combination of environmentally responsible methods approved for the situation and managed by the owners of the birds, IDALS, and DNR. The methods include composting, containerized burial, rendering, incineration, and pressurized auto-claving. Q. Where can I find more information on the infected sites? A. The USDA APHIS website provides a list of confirmed cases of avian influenza, including the county, poultry species, confirmation date, and flock size. The name and address of the infected premises are not included, to protect the integrity of the site biosecurity. Federal and State agencies are coordinating response to these sites.

3 Quarantine or Control Area Questions Q. What are the buffer zones? A. The order for quarantine comes from individual states. The USDA sets the specific zone according to the APHIS Red Book Response Plan. The minimum size of a State implemented Control Area is 10 km (6.2 miles). A control area is a 3 km (1.9 mile) infected zone + buffer zone. This is an example diagram for a hypothetical infected premise: Q. What is the surveying and sampling procedure for poultry in the buffer zone? A. A written quarantine order will be delivered in person to people living within the zone. This is signed by the State Veterinarian. Any domesticated birds identified within the area will be tested using a swab collected from the bird orally or on the cloacal vent. These swabs will be handled securely and sent to an authorized laboratory to prevent the spread of any suspected disease. Q. How long do the test results take to find out if the bird is infected? A. The ISU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (VDL) in Ames is authorized to conduct testing on submitted samples. When delivered prior to 3pm, they are prepared to provide same-day results. If the owner of the sampled bird has provided their address, they will also receive automatic correspondence via with the positive or negative test results. If the VDL returns a presumptive positive test result, the sample is transported securely to the USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) where a confirmation test is performed to identify the subtype of the virus. Q. Will there be a letter sent out informing the owner of the bird? A. After the initial sample, there will be a second sample taken two weeks later. After the results from this second test are completed and the quarantine is released, the owner of the bird will receive a letter with the test results from the office of the State Veterinarian. Q. What should the Surveying and Sampling Crew Members be wearing? A. They will be wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including gloves, respiratory masks, rubber boots or disposable shoe covers and disposable coveralls. We are taking biosecurity precautions to prevent the accidental spread of any material as we move from farm to farm. Our primary concern is to ensure the health and safety of animals within the buffer zone and around the state.

4 Farmers and Backyard Flock Owner Questions Q. What can I do to protect my birds? A. Prevent your birds from exposure with wild waterfowl other types of poultry. Report sick birds and unusual death loss to your veterinarian and/or the Board of Animal Health. Use strict biosecurity measures, such as cleaning and disinfection of bird housing facilities as well as rodent and insect control measures, to prevent spread of the virus. Avoid sharing equipment with other farms and restrict visitors on your farm. Q. How would avian influenza affect my birds? A. Poultry affected by avian influenza will appear depressed, have ruffled feathers and are unwilling to eat. Birds may have watery diarrhea that starts off bright green and changes to white. The combs and wattles are often swollen and can turn blue. Swelling may occur around the eyes and neck. Legs may have pin-point hemorrhages. Egg production drops and typically stops. Rare cases can affect the brain causing twisted heads, circling, or paralysis. Sudden death may occur. Infected mammals will have fever, cough and breathing difficulty. Q. What disinfectants are recommended for cleaning vehicle tires, shoes, surface area, etc.? A. A list of EPA s recommended disinfectants and antimicrobial products can be found at: This includes ready-to-use liquids, soluble concentrates, pellets/tablets, and towelettes. Active Ingredients and Manufacturer information is also listed. Q. Can I submit samples from my own poultry to be tested for avian influenza? A. Information about the correct procedure, listing the required equipment and a video demonstrating the collection process, is available from the ISU College of Veterinary Medicine at: Q. How can I protect myself from avian influenza? A. Avoid touching your eyes or mouth until hands have been washed thoroughly with soap and water. Antiviral medication or vaccines may be used during an outbreak situation. People working with the virus in laboratories or on vaccination crews should take extra precautions. Q. Can I take my chickens off my farm to a meat processor? A. If you receive a quarantine order, or suspect your property is within the buffer zone, please do not move any poultry or poultry products outside it. This is in the best interest of your animal s health. If it becomes necessary to move your birds off your premises, you can request a waiver from the State Veterinarian s office requesting permission to move outside the control area. Q. Can I sell or give away my eggs (in or out of the control area)? A. Movement of poultry products, including eggs, from the premises is prohibited subject to the quarantine order. This is in the best interest of your animals health. Eggs can be refrigerated until after the quarantine order is lifted. Q. What can be moved outside of the quarantine premises? A. The State Veterinarian s office will handle requests for transport of poultry, poultry products, feed, manure, wood chips and bedding from the premises outside the quarantine zone. A permit can be issued. Q. Does this affect people receiving chicks in the mail? A. If you are expecting to receive live chicks, either from a hatchery or commercial breeder, we ask that you postpone this order until after the quarantine order is lifted.

5 Egg Production and Consumption Questions Q. Are eggs from infected areas approved for the food system with the H5N2 outbreak? A. Approval authority for Whole Shell Eggs is regulated by the Food & Drug Administration and Liquid Eggs are regulated by USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). Q. What effect does pasteurization have on the H5N2 virus? A. The pasteurization process kills HPAI by heating the eggs to a temperature that destroys the virus. The established temperature is considered to be 133 F (56 C) for a minimum of 60 minutes. Q. What is pasteurization? A. Normally, within hours of being laid the eggs are submerged in all-natural water bath, where computercontrolled temperature zones monitor and assure accurate pasteurization. The combination of time and temperature heats the eggs in their shells to the exact temperature needed to destroy all bacteria and virus, meeting established food safety standards, without cooking the egg. After pasteurization, the eggs are sealed with an FDA-approved, food-grade coating to prevent contamination. Q. Who is responsible for approval/denial of whether the eggs are safe to eat? A. The Food & Drug Administration is the authority for food consumption approval of eggs that have left the facility and transported to food processing facilities.

Avian Influenza. Poultry Growers September 2015

Avian Influenza. Poultry Growers September 2015 Avian Influenza Poultry Growers September 2015 What shoes are you wearing? Avian Influenza Caused by a virus Named after proteins on their envelope H for Hemagglutinin (1-16) N for Neuraminidase (1-9)