Gamebird producers across

NAGA Health Update by Dan Johnson Avian Influenza Reappears In Spring Of 2017 Gamebird producers across North America were on alert in March and April as avian influenza reappeared in several areas, in both high- and low-pathogenic forms. On March 5, the United States Department of Agriculture s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic H7 avian influenza (HPAI) in a commercial chicken breeder flock in Lincoln County, Tennessee. It was the first confirmed case of HPAI in commercial poultry in the United States in 2017. The flock of 73,500 was located within the Mississippi flyway. Samples from the affected flock, which experienced increased mortality, were tested at Tennessee s Kord Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory and confirmed at the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa. Shortly afterward, the NVSL identified the virus as North American wild bird lineage H7N9 HPAI based upon full genome sequence analysis of the samples at the national laboratories. All eight gene segments of the virus were of North American wild bird lineage, and not the same as the China H7N9 virus that has impacted poultry and infected humans in Asia. continued from page 4 influenza outbreaks in your state. They can help ensure a plan that allows the movement of birds within your state. These are important for both the preserve and the producer farm. A preserve cannot survive without birds. And a farm cannot exist if it can t deliver them. If you have not already done so, take the time to find out who your state veterinarian is, and get to know them. Continuing with the theme of clichés an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. H While the subtype is the same as the China H7N9 lineage that emerged in 2013, this is a different virus and is genetically distinct from the China H7N9 lineage. As additional background, avian influenza viruses are classified by a combination of two groups of proteins: hemagglutinin or H proteins, of which there are 16 (H1 H16), and neuraminidase or N proteins, of which there are 9 (N1 N9). Many different combinations of H and N proteins are possible. Each combination is considered a different subtype, and subtypes are further broken down into different strains. Genetically related AI, continued on page 6 5

2017 NAGA BOARD COMMITTEES Executive Committee Fuzzy Stock, Bill MacFarlane, Sam Ballou, John Metzer, Tim Zindl, Brian Beavers Auction John Metzer, Chair Vern Beavers, Ally, Bonny Stock, Claudette Beavers, Andrea Hairston, Sondra Maness, Jeff Hughes Convention Program Bill MacFarlane, Chair Sarah Pope, Brian Beavers, Sam Ballou Convention Site Rob Sexton, Chair Fuzzy Stock Exhibits Brian Beavers, Chair Rick Kuhl, Andy Hairston, Chad Hughes, Peg Ballou, Sonny Hairston Health Bill MacFarlane, Chair Tim Zindl, Todd Laudenslager, Sam Ballou, John Metzer, Eva Pendleton Membership Sam Ballou, Chair Jeff Maness, John Metzer, Chad Hughes, Rob Sexton Nominating Tim Zindl, Chair Todd Laudenslager, Rick Kuhl, Andy Hairston, Fuzzy Stock Publications Peg Ballou, Chair Dan Johnson, Bernadette Gilliland, Sonny Hairston, Brian Beavers Youth and Scholarships Vern Beavers, Chair Bonny Stock, Jeff Hughes, Bernadette Gilliland, John Metzer, Jeff Maness AI, continued from page 5 strains within a subtype are referred to as lineage. The alliance of government agencies and farms swung into action much faster and more effectively than during the 2015 outbreak. Thanks to a combination of improved monitoring procedures, streamlined response measures and extensive training, the coalition was better equipped to assess the situation, manage biosecurity on affected sites and help prevent the disease from spreading. APHIS worked closely with the TWO CASES of high-path avian influenza were confirmed in Tennessee. Tennessee Department of Agriculture on a joint incident response. State officials quarantined the affected premises and birds on the property were depopulated to prevent the spread of the disease. Birds from the flock did not enter the food system. As part of existing avian influenza response plans, federal and state partners conducted additional surveillance and testing of poultry within an expanded 10-mile radius around the affected premises. On March 16, the USDA and Tennessee officials confirmed a second case of highly pathogenic H7N9 avian influenza in a commercial breeder flock in Lincoln County. This H7N9 strain was also of North American wild bird lineage and was the same strain of avian influenza that was previously confirmed in Tennessee. The flock of 55,000 chickens was located in the Mississippi Flyway, within three kilometers of the first Tennessee case. Wild birds can carry this strain of avian influenza, state veterinarian Dr. Charles Hatcher said. Given the close proximity of the two premises, this is not unexpected. We will continue to execute our plan, working quickly to prevent the virus from spreading further. Samples from the affected flock, which displayed signs of illness and experienced increased mortality, were tested at Tennessee s Kord laboratory and confirmed at APHIS NVSL facility in Iowa. Working under a joint incident response plan with the USDA, state officials quarantined the affected premises and depopulated the flock. Federal and state partners conducted surveillance and testing of commercial and backyard poultry within a 10-kilometer (6.2-mile) radius of the site. On April 12, the Tennessee state veterinarian released the control 6

zone surrounding the two Lincoln County poultry farms affected by highly pathogenic avian influenza. The statewide poultry health advisory was also lifted, allowing poultry owners to resume regular activity. Low-Path Virus Surfaces Low-pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) outbreaks were also reported in Tennessee and several other states. In Tennessee, Dr. Hatcher on March 9 confirmed that a flock of chickens at a commercial poultry breeding operation in Giles County tested positive for LPAI. The company that operates it was different from the one associated with the recent detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Lincoln County. Officials did not believe one premises sickened the other. On March 6, routine screening tests at the Giles County premises had indicated the presence of avian influenza in the flock. State and federal laboratories confirmed the existence of H7N9 LPAI in tested samples. This is why we test and monitor for avian influenza, Dr. Hatcher said. When routine testing showed a problem at this facility, the operators immediately took action and notified our lab. That fast response is critical to stopping the spread of this virus. THE TENNESSEE VIRUS was of North American wild bird lineage, and not the same as the China H7N9 virus that has impacted poultry and infected humans in Asia. As a precaution, the affected flock was depopulated and buried, and the premises placed under quarantine. Domesticated poultry within a 10-kilometer (6.2 mile) radius of the site were also placed under quarantine and tested for illness. Meanwhile, animal health officials with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection reported that a lowpathogenic H5 strain was found in a commercial turkey flock in a Jennie-O Turkey Store operation in Barron, Wisconsin. Hormel Foods, which owns Willmar-based Jennie-O, confirmed the H5N2 strain was detected March 4 at its Barron operation. At least one neighboring state, Iowa, required serology and PCR testing for avian influenza prior to interstate movement from Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory set up special testing for Wisconsin poultry producers to comply with the new rule. Wisconsin officials urged all poultry owners, regardless of size, to increase biosecurity efforts now that two strains of avian influenza had been found in the Mississippi Flyway. It s in a poultry owner s best interest to take precautions now to minimize the effect that avian influenza will have on their flock, said Dr. Darlene Konkle, Wisconsin s AI, continued on page 26 A Complete Line of Equipment for the Gamebird Industry! Contact us for a FREE Catalog and more information. Perfect Peepers & Pinless Peepers The most widely used peepers in the industry! Waterers, Drinkers & Feeders Gamebird Catch Nets & Flight Pen Netting Transportation Coops CORPORATION P.O. Box 26 Kuhl Road Flemington, NJ 08822 USA (908) 782-5696 (908) 782-2751 fax info@kuhlcorp.com kuhlcorp.com NAGA Diamond Sponsor 7

AI, continued from page 7 assistant state veterinarian. Since there was no evidence of conversion or mutation to HPAI, and the flock was not scheduled for immediate depopulation. A quarantine was placed on the farm and the birds were to be dispersed via controlled marketing, with ongoing testing for further cases. Alabama Update When avian influenza was detected in Lincoln County, Tennessee, near the Alabama border, Alabama officials also sprang into action. Portions of Alabama lay within the control zone, including one commercial Tyson farm, and testing began in earnest. On March 14, Alabama state veterinarian Dr. Tony Frazier issued an official order prohibiting poultry exhibitions and the assembling of poultry to be sold. The order prohibited all poultry exhibitions, sales at regional and county fairs, festivals, swap meets, live bird markets, flea markets and auctions. The order also banned the concentration, collection, or assembly of poultry of all types, including wild waterfowl from one or more premises for purposes of sale. Shipments of eggs or chicks from National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) approved facilities were not affected by the order. On March 16, Alabama reported that the USDA s NVSL facility confirmed that samples collected from guinea fowl at the TaCo-Bet Trade BECAUSE WILD BIRDS CAN CARRY avian influenza and not appear sick, state and federal partners conduct surveillance testing on wild birds. Day flea market in Scottsboro, located in Jackson County, had tested positive for H7N9 LPAI. The premises of origin for the guinea fowl, also located in Jackson County, Ala., was placed under quarantine and surveillance. The guinea fowl in question were depopulated. A commercial breeder flock in Lauderdale County was also tested, and the flock depopulated at the farm s request. That flock was later confirmed to have LPAI. On March 21, Frazier confirmed that a flock of chickens at a commercial poultry breeding operation located in Pickens County, Alabama, and a backyard flock located in Madison County had also tested positive for LPAI. A Cullman County commercial flock subsequently tested positive as well. On April 14, Alabama officially rescinded the order. We are quite confident the avian influenza threat is over. We are in the recovery phase at this time and are working to enhance our response capabilities should we face another outbreak in the future, said Dr. Frazier. Kentucky Update On March 20, federal and state authorities reported that a case of low pathogenic avian influenza was detected in a commercial poultry flock in western Kentucky. Kentucky state veterinarian Robert Stout said the USDA s Iowa lab confirmed the presence of H7N9 LPAI in samples taken from a farm in Christian County. The virus exposure at the premises was initially detected by the Murray State University Breathitt Veterinary Center in Hopkinsville while conducting a routine preslaughter test the week before. Dr. Stout said there were no clinical signs of disease in the birds. The 26

affected premises was placed under quarantine and the flock of approximately 22,000 hens was depopulated as a precautionary measure. On April 4, AgNet reported that Kentucky detected its second case of H7N9 LPAI. Dr. Bradley Keogh, Kentucky deputy state veterinarian, confirmed the virus was found a flock of about 2,700 free-range laying chickens. The birds, also in Christian County, were being raised by a contract grower for a free-range egg company. The farm was depopulated and a second 10-kilometer zone was established. On April 13, Stout released surveillance zones surrounding the two Christian County farms following negative test results for low pathogenic avian influenza from both commercial and backyard poultry operations. However, quarantines on the two affected farms remained in place pending completion of cleaning and disinfection procedures. Georgia Report On March 27, the Georgia Department of Agriculture reported that a flock of chickens at a commercial poultry breeding operation located in Chattooga County tested positive for H7, presumptive LPAI. Officials said it was the first confirmation of avian influenza in domestic poultry in Georgia. The virus was identified during routine pre-sale screening for the commercial facility and was confirmed as H7 avian influenza by the USDA NVSL facility in Iowa. As a precaution, the affected flock was depopulated. Officials tested and monitored other flocks within the area and no other flocks have tested positive or experienced any clinical signs. Georgia also continued a temporary suspension of all poultry exhibitions, swaps and meets, shows or sales at festivals, flea markets or auctions. The ban was enacted earlier in March, in response to the confirmations of avian influenza in Tennessee. H Additional Background Avian influenza (AI) is caused by an influenza type A virus which can infect poultry (such as chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, domestic ducks, geese and guinea fowl) and is carried by free flying waterfowl such as ducks, geese and shorebirds. AI viruses are classified by a combination of two groups of proteins: hemagglutinin or H proteins, of which there are 16 (H1 H16), and neuraminidase or N proteins, of which there are 9 (N1 N9). Many different combinations of H and N proteins are possible. Each combination is considered a different subtype, and can be further broken down into different strains. AI viruses are further classified by their pathogenicity (low or high) the ability of a particular virus strain to produce disease in domestic chickens. High- and Low-Path Avian Influenza Are Not The Same Avian influenza viruses are divided into two groups highly pathogenic (HPAI) and lowpathogenic (LPAI) based on the ability of the virus to produce disease and the severity of the illness it can cause. HPAI virus strains are extremely infectious, often fatal to domestic poultry, and can spread rapidly from flock-to-flock. It is a serious disease and requires a rapid, coordinated response from federal, state, local and industry partners. LPAI occurs naturally in migratory waterfowl and shorebirds without causing illness. LPAI can occur in domestic poultry, with little or no signs of illness. Because LPAI does not typically kill poultry the way that HPAI does, there may be additional control options beyond depopulation. However, because some LPAI strains have the potential to genetically change into HPAI, authorities may depopulate flocks infected with those strains of LPAI before they have the potential to change to HPAI and cause severe mortality. Federal and state officials determine what option(s) are available to affected producers. BIOLOGISTS, continued from page 9 over 49 million birds and cost approximately $1 billion in damages and control costs. Although it is possible for domestic poultry to become infected with avian influenza from direct contact with wild birds, it is more likely that the viruses are spread indirectly to poultry on contaminated feed, clothing and equipment, notes DeLiberto. Since 2006, Wildlife Services has been a leader in a national, multiagency effort to monitor wild birds for highly pathogenic avian influenza. Between July 2015 and March 2016, Wildlife Services and its partners tested more than 45,000 apparently healthy wild birds for avian influenza in targeted areas throughout the United States. Monitoring is ongoing, with peak sampling periods during fall and winter seasons. For more information on avian influenza surveillance in wild birds and the latest findings, visit: aphis. usda.gov. H Quality Producers of: Established 1955 610 Game Farm Road Dalmatia, PA 17017 Ringneck Pheasant Chinese strain Mongolian strain eggs-chicks-started-mature-dressed-smoked Partridge Chukar Hungarian started-mature Call for further information: Mike and Don Martz 800-326-8442 Fax: 570-758-3166 Office hours: 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. 27