Experts Weigh in on the Impact of Avian Influenza Across the Poultry Industry

LAUREL, Miss. — With the USDA’s March 2017 confirmation of Avian Influenza in southern Tennessee, Alabama, and Kentucky, the virus has struck the United States for the fourth year in a row. Since the first reported case in 2014 to the 2017 outbreak, over 40 million chickens and turkeys have died or been euthanized across 15 states in the U.S.

According to the World Organization for Animal Health, 13 strains of Avian Influenza were detected in 77 countries between January 2014 and December 2016. After the 2014 outbreak, Mexico and Canada introduced state or regional bans on U.S. broiler exports, and China imposed a national ban. When news of Avian Influenza broke in early 2017, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Taiwan all halted import of U.S. poultry.

“Even one infected chicken house could have a global impact,” said Mark Leggett, president of the Mississippi Poultry Association. “One of the worst impacts from the bird flu in the U.S. is the impact on global trade. We export a large percentage of poultry products to other countries around the world.”

The USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) cautioned the public that the strain of Avian Influenza experienced in Tennessee is not the same as the H7N9 virus that has impacted poultry and infected humans in China and across Asia.

“Fortunately, there have been no reported cases of strains of Avian Influenza affecting humans in the U.S. as a result of the 2017 outbreak. In fact, all poultry flocks in the United States are tested prior to processing to make sure they are healthy and free of any virus,” Leggett continued. “American consumers have a high degree of confidence in the safety of our food supply, and that confidence is well placed.”

When outbreaks of Avian Influenza occur, state and federal agencies, as well as industry representatives and wildlife experts, work together quickly to review and modify biosecurity methods that are in place.

“Within every state that we operate, Texas, Georgia, Mississippi and North Carolina, there are both state and federal plans in place in the event of a reported infection,” said Dr. Phil Stayer, Corporate Veterinarian for Sanderson Farms, the country’s third largest poultry producer. “All state plans must meet the federal minimum standard; however, Sanderson Farms goes well above and beyond the federal minimum standard.”

Since 2014, Sanderson Farms has been sending frequent communications to its employees and growers to remind them of the risk of bird flu and stress the importance of strict adherence to the company’s biosecurity measures. Many companies within the industry have taken great strides to ensure the strictest biosecurity methods and precautions are in place to protect flocks from infectious diseases.

“Previously, we thought the virus was primarily spread by coming up the driveway, transmitted from farm-to-farm by service vehicles and on equipment. Now, we realize it’s spread as waterfowl fly overhead, meaning it can easily be picked up by simply walking across the yard through duck droppings,” said Stayer. “This means we have had to change our entire mindset from farm-by-farm, to house-by-house.  All of which means much tighter security.”

Understanding how the virus is transmitted has played a major role in establishing biosecurity measures and developing response plans.

“This particular strain of bird flu affects all bird species who contract the virus and most birds that get it will get sick and die. However, waterfowl like geese and ducks don’t necessarily get sick and can carry the virus for longer periods of time and from place to place as they migrate,” said Dr. Kenneth Angel with USDA’s Veterinary Services for Louisiana and Mississippi.

“Other birds can get the virus, but they don’t spread the virus long distances because they get too sick to fly, while some are able to spread the virus on their feet or feathers without actually becoming sick.”

According to the CDC, “humans can be infected with avian and other zoonotic influenza viruses, such as avian influenza virus subtypes A(H5N1), A(H7N9), and A(H9N2) but infections are rare and acquired through direct contact with infected animals or contaminated environments, but do not result in efficient transmission of these viruses between people. There is no evidence that avian influenza viruses can infect humans through properly cooked food.”