June 18, 2004

 

 

Avian Influenza Case Under Control In US Northeast Texas

 

As of June 10, no other cases of avian influenza (AI) had been detected within a 10-mile radius of the flocks found to be infected with AI in late May, according to Dr. Max Coats, Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) deputy director for Animal Health Programs.

 

"Things look really good," Coats said. "We're not anticipating any other birds in the area to be found carrying the virus."

 

Following the depopulation of 48,000 commercial breeder chickens in western Hopkins County that were found to have AI, TAHC began the task of "disease surveillance" in the area.

 

This task involved finding and testing all poultry within a 10-mile radius of the index flock.

 

A third commercial flock was tested for AI, but tests returned negative.

 

The surveillance plan also focused on the noncommercial, or "backyard," flocks. As of the week of June 7, a total of 277 non-commercial flocks within a 10-mile radius of the index flock had been identified by state and federal animal health inspectors.

 

Finding all the non-commercial flocks involved inspectors "driving the roads" and then seeking permission from the owners to test the birds. Inspectors catch and take a blood sample from a sampling of the flock, or flocks, if the property contains various poultry such as chickens, guineas, ducks, turkeys, etc., according to Coats.

 

The good news is that of all the birds tested so far, none of the blood samples indicate AI. Coats projected the initial sampling of the located non-commercial flocks will wrap up the week of June 14, and the process of re-sampling the birds will begin, as part of the disease surveillance protocol.

 

"We certainly appreciate the cooperation of the non-commercial bird owners in the sampling process," Coats added.

 

Coats also pointed out the national laboratory in Ames, Iowa, which had received the blood samples from the index flock, has yet to isolate the virus.

 

This indicates the AI is low pathogenic which deters its capability to spread.

 

More good news in the Hopkins County AI situation is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's work to establish indemnity funds for the producers whose 48,000 breeder hens were depopulated.

 

"Indications from USDA ... is it looks like they are willing to do some indemnification" for the producers, Coats shared the evening of June 10.

 

The funds would help cover the expenses the producers incurred euthanizing the AI-infected birds and disinfecting the properties. Coats noted no rates or amount, as of June 10, had been set by the Department of Agriculture.

 

A request for information from Pilgrim's Pride, the company in contract with the AI-infected flocks, concerning any possible financial compensation for the producers' loss, was not answered as of press time.

 

Coats said once the commercial farms are "released from quarantine," which calculates to 10 days following complete disinfection, "they may be repopulated."