Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Confirmed in North Dakota

Hello! I hope you’re having a great day!

We received a small amount of rain and snow this past week. The high temperature for the past week ranged from 37 to 56 degrees with an average of 45 degrees. That average is 7 degrees lower than the 52 degrees average we should be having. Another chilly week. The forecasted temperature for the coming week looks to be below normal again.

The Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) is a virus of birds and has been confirmed in North Dakota on March 24, in a snow goose in Burleigh County. Since then it has been confirmed in 35 additional wild birds and owls in six counties with the closest being Stutsman and Foster Counties. HPAI has also been confirmed in a backyard mixed flock in Kidder County on March 29. Since then it has been confirmed it two more backyard flocks and three commercial flocks with the closest being in LaMoure County. To keep abreast of future confirmations visit the following websites: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-disease-i… and https://www.nd.gov/ndda/node/3694.

This is a serious poultry disease and biosecurity practices must be adopted. The goal for biosecurity is to prevent the introduction or spread of infectious organisms, viruses, and funguses, parasites, and other microorganisms from entering the flock. Biosecurity is a team effort. Everyone raising livestock should have biosecurity protocols in place to prepare and prevent disease outbreaks.

Biosecurity steps include Keeping Your Distance. For this practice, restrict access to your property and your birds. Allow contact from people who care for your birds but minimize visitors. Another biosecurity step is to Keep It Clean. Wear clean clothes, scrub your shoes with disinfectant and wash your hands thoroughly before and after caring for your flock. Clean and disinfect tools and equipment that come into contact with your birds or their droppings. Another biosecurity step is to Don’t Haul Diseases Home. If you have been near other poultry or poultry owners, such as at feed stores, clean and disinfect car and truck tires. New birds should be kept separate from your flock for at least 30 days. Another biosecurity step is Don’t Borrow Disease Form Your Neighbor. Do not share lawn and garden equipment, tools, or poultry supplies with your neighbor or other poultry owners. The last biosecurity step is to Know Warning Signs of Infectious Bird Diseases. Early detection is important to prevent the spread of diseases. Monitor poultry health as you conduct chores each day.

The signs for HPAI include sudden, unexpected death, decline in water consumptions, decreased egg production and depression in layers, purple or dry combs, quieter than normal, frequently laying down, and swelling around eyes.

HPAI can infect poultry such as chickens, turkeys, quail, domestic ducks, geese and guinea fowl. Wild birds such as waterfowl, gulls, terns, and shorebirds can be infected without showing symptoms of the infection, but some of these species and others can die as well. Infected birds shed the virus in their saliva, mucous, and feces.

Procedures for sick poultry include monitoring your flock for signs of illness. Report what you are seeing and any dead domestic birds to your local veterinarian so next steps can be taken. If you can’t reach a local veterinarian, call the North Dakota State Board of Animal Health at 701-328-2655. Avoid contact and do not transport sick or diseased poultry. If you must handle wild birds or sick or dead poultry, minimize direct contact by wearing gloves and wash your hands with soap and water after touching birds and any contaminated surfaces. If available, wear respiratory protection such as a medical facemask. Change your clothing before contact with healthy domestic poultry and wash your hands.

USDA avian influenza response plans for federal and state partners to respond quickly and decisively to these outbreaks by following these five basic steps: Quarantine; Eradicate; Monitor Region; Disinfect; and Test.

In the case of depopulation due to HPIA, the USDA will reimburse farmers for birds as long as you can prove you have a biosecurity plan in place.

Proper disposal is left up to USDA and state partners.

NDSU Extension encourages all poultry operations of any size to complete a voluntary survey at https://bit.ly/3IvXLhj .