Avian Influenza Frequently Asked Questions
This FAQ is from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
- What is the state currently doing to detect, monitor, and prevent AI in domestic and wild bird populations in Florida?
- Other than the possibility of people and/or fowl becoming infected, what are the top concerns of Florida?
- What steps does the state want people to take to help in AI detection and prevention?
- What are the plans to address or contain AI should it show up in Florida?
What is the state currently doing to detect, monitor, and prevent AI in domestic and wild bird populations in Florida?
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services regularly monitor Florida’s domestic fowl for evidence of influenza. Although there can actually be sudden death of fowl without clinical signs, some obvious signs include: lack of energy and appetite, decreased egg production, misshapen eggs, swelling of the head, eyelids, comb, wattles and hocks, nasal discharge, coughing and sneezing, lack of coordination and diarrhea. Many strains of AI cause no disease at all.
Samples are regularly collected from exhibition or back yard flocks, live bird markets, and county fairs. Commercial poultry breeding flocks are sampled and tested every 90 days. In fact, the Department’s Division of Animal Industry has had a testing program for more than 20 years but in the fall of 2005 expanded the testing to more than 21,000 randomly selected birds, a more than five fold increase over the previous year.
An interagency HPAI Early Detection Working Group was formed to develop a national strategic plan for coordinated surveillance efforts of wild, migratory birds in North America. High priority species have been identified for targeted surveillance, which incorporates sampling of live-captured and hunter-killed migratory birds. The focus of the strategy is to develop a network that will facilitate early detection of HPAI in migratory birds. These efforts are being coordinated among the states within migratory pathways.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is conducting AI surveillance in wild bird populations by monitoring and investigating reports of wild bird die-offs. We are working in cooperation with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, University of Florida, National Wildlife Health Center, and the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study on this surveillance initiative. Members of the public are encouraged to report all sightings of dead birds to the bird mortality database.
Wild birds involved in die-offs are collected, necropsied, and tested for Avian Influenza and other pathogens of concern.
FWC is also working more closely with wildlife rehabilitators to monitor for avian (and other) die-offs. FWC staff regularly gives presentations at the Florida Wildlife Rehabilitator Association’s annual conference emphasizing the role of rehabilitators in foreign animal/emerging wildlife disease monitoring in wildlife.
Lastly, the FWC is cooperating with the HPAI Early Detection Working Group and Atlantic Flyway Council to potentially monitor for AI in targeted species of migratory birds arriving via the Atlantic Flyway. This may include sampling of specific species, especially the lesser scaup, at certain hunter check stations. Surveillance may also involve the sampling of live-captured birds handled as part of ongoing research projects.
Other than the possibility of people and/or fowl becoming infected, what are the top concerns of Florida?
The poultry industry is important in Florida and the presence of AI can result in embargo and lost markets domestically and internationally. That is why commercial poultry companies and FDACS have an aggressive testing and monitoring program. In addition, FDACS is responsible for food safety and these steps ensure the safety of Florida’s food supply. AI viruses are destroyed by heat and are killed in the cooking process. It is perfectly safe to consume fowl that is cooked properly (well done or 160 F). Public perception about the safety of fowl is also an important factor and that is why public outreach and education about the facts of AI is so important.
What steps does the state want people to take to help in AI detection and prevention?
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission are working in cooperation on the AI surveillance initiative. Other entities assisting in this effort include the University of Florida, National Wildlife Health Center, and the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study. Early detection can make a difference. Both FDACS and FWC strongly encourage reporting die-offs and/or unusual sickness in domestic and wild birds. Additionally, protect domestic or captive birds by preventing contact between wild birds (especially waterfowl) and domestic or captive birds.
In the instance of unusual illness or die-offs in domestic fowl, people should call the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Animal Industry at 850-410-0900 or after hours 1-800-342-5869 or email rad@doacs.state.fl.us, or to the USDA Area Office 352-333-3120, or email vsfl@usda.gov. In the instance of wild bird die-offs, although the FWC asks that the public does not handle sick or dead birds, the public is strongly encouraged to report sightings of dead birds to the bird mortality database so that incidents may be investigated.
What are the plans to address or contain AI should it show up in Florida?
FDACS has a written “Avian Influenza H5/H7 State Response and Containment Plan” which has been developed in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for commercial poultry. However, the principles of the plan will also be applied to noncommercial poultry. It outlines diagnostic resources available in Florida, describes the routine surveillance and monitoring program for AI which has been in effect since 1985 and outlines a general response strategy. Early detection of AI will lead to early eradication and the basis of AI control will be: rapid imposition of effective quarantines; intensified surveillance of poultry; elimination of the virus from known affected premises; and prevention of movement of known and suspected contaminated materials as well as sanitary disposal of infected materials and birds. The document provides detailed measures that must be taken to accomplish these goals.
FWC is currently working on developing response protocols. In the unlikely event that a highly pathogenic strain of AI reaches Florida, FWC will work in close cooperation with the Department of Health, Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and other agencies to monitor the disease in wild birds. Culling of wild birds is not expected for disease control purposes. In fact culling wild birds could worsen the spread of the virus. We would also not expect that hunting seasons will be affected; however, we will be following the recommendations of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Florida Department of Health (DOH).
FWC will also play a strong role in public education, especially emphasizing the importance of good sanitation and biosecurity. The public should not handle sick or dead birds, rather immediately report them on the bird mortality database. Hunters, wildlife rehabilitators, biologists, and others working with or handling wild birds should follow the guidelines outlined by the National Wildlife Health Center. People handling wild birds should be especially careful about contacting captive or domestic birds, as direct or indirect contact between wild and domestic birds should be prevented
