Avian Influenza (AI)

What Is AI?

Worldwide, there are many strains of avian influenza (AI) virus that can cause varying amounts of clinical illness in poultry. AI viruses can infect chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, ducks, geese and guinea fowl, as well as a wide variety of other birds. Migratory waterfowl have proved to be a natural reservoir for the less infectious strains of the disease known as low pathogenicity avian influenza.

AI viruses can be classified into low pathogenicity (LPAI) and high pathogenicity (HPAI) based on the severity of the illness they cause. HPAI is an extremely infectious and fatal form of the disease that, once established, can spread rapidly from flock to flock. However, some LPAI virus strains are capable of mutating under field conditions into HPAI viruses.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) works to keep HPAI from becoming established in the U.S. poultry population.

What Are the Signs?

The clinical signs of birds affected with all forms of AI may show one or more of the following:

• Sudden death without clinical signs
• Lack of energy and appetite
• Decreased egg production
• Soft–shelled or misshapen eggs
• Swelling of the head, eyelids, comb, wattles, and hocks
• Purple discoloration of the wattles, combs, and legs
• Nasal discharge
• Coughing, sneezing
• Lack of coordination
• Diarrhea

How Is AI Spread?

Exposure of poultry to migratory waterfowl and the international movement of poultry, poultry equipment, and people pose risks for introducing AI into U.S. poultry. Once introduced, the disease can be spread from bird to bird by direct contact. AI viruses can also be spread by manure, equipment, vehicles, egg flats, crates, and people whose clothing or shoes have come in contact with the virus. AI viruses can remain viable at moderate temperatures for long periods in the environment and can survive indefinitely in frozen material. One gram of contaminated manure can contain enough virus to infect one million birds.

What can you do to prevent AI?

Materials that carry the AI virus can be picked up on shoes and clothing and moved from an area with sick birds to an area with healthy ones. Moving birds from one place to another can also spread diseases, especially because some birds can carry disease without looking sick. By making biosecurity a part of your daily routine while caring for your birds, you decrease the chance of AI showing up on your back doorstep.

In addition to international import restrictions, APHIS has increased surveillance efforts to detect AI if it is accidentally introduced into the United States. APHIS and State veterinarians trained to diagnose foreign animal diseases regularly conduct field investigations of suspicious disease conditions. This surveillance is enhanced by efforts from university personnel, State animal health officials, USDA-accredited veterinarians, and industry representatives.

To help keep your birds healthy:

1. Keep Your Distance.

Restrict access to your property and your birds. Consider fencing off the area where you keep your birds and make a barrier area if possible. Allow only people who take care of your birds to come into contact with them. If visitors have birds of their own, do not let them near your birds. Game birds and migratory waterfowl should not have contact with your flock because they can carry germs and diseases.

2. Keep It Clean.

Wear clean clothes, scrub your shoes with disinfectant, and wash your hands thoroughly before entering your bird area. Clean cages and change food and water daily. Clean and disinfect equipment that comes in contact with your birds or their droppings, including cages and tools. Remove manure before disinfecting. Properly dispose of dead birds.

3. Don’t Haul Disease Home.

If you have been near other birds or bird owners, such as at a feed store, clean and disinfect car and truck tires, poultry cages, and equipment before going home.

Have your birds have been to a fair or exhibition? Keep them separated from the rest of your flock for 2 weeks after the event. New birds should be kept separate from your flock for at least 30 days.

4. Don’t Borrow Disease From Your Neighbor.

Do not share birds, lawn and garden equipment, tools, or poultry supplies with your neighbors or other bird owners. If you do, bring these items home clean and disinfect them before they reach your property.

5. Know the Warning Signs of Infectious Bird Diseases.

Early detection is important to prevent the spread of disease.

• Sudden death
• Diarrhea
• Decreased or complete loss of egg production, soft-shelled, misshapen eggs
• Sneezing, gasping for air, nasal discharge, coughing
• Lack of energy and appetite
• Swelling of tissues around eyes and in neck
• Purple discoloration of the wattles, combs and legs
• Depression, muscular tremors, drooping wings, twisting of head and neck, in coordination, complete paralysis

6. Report Sick Birds.

Don’t wait. Early detection can make a difference. If your birds are sick or dying, call your local cooperative extension office, local veterinarian, the State Veterinarian, or U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Veterinary Services office to find out why. USDA operates a toll-free hotline (1-866-536-7593) with veterinarians to help you.

Call your veterinarian or local extension agent to examine all of your sick birds or birds that die suddenly, especially if you have been around other people’s birds or brought new birds home.

What Is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Role in Preventing AI From Entering the United States?

USDA requires that imported birds (poultry, pet birds, birds exhibited at zoos, and ratites) be quarantined and tested for the avian influenza virus before entering the country. This precaution is taken to prevent foreign strains of AI from being introduced in the United States.

In addition to international import restrictions, APHIS has increased surveillance efforts to detect highly pathogenic avian influenza if it is accidentally introduced into the United States. APHIS and State veterinarians trained to diagnose foreign animal diseases regularly conduct field investigations of suspicious disease conditions. This surveillance is enhanced by efforts from university personnel, State animal health officials, USDA-accredited veterinarians, and industry representatives.

What should you do if your birds appear to have signs of AI?

Report Sick Birds! If your birds show signs of AI or may have been exposed to birds with the disease, you should notify Federal or State animal health officials or call 1-866-536-7593 (toll-free) or your local agricultural extension agent.

You are the best protection your birds have!