HOPKINSVILLE, Ky — Kentucky has become the latest in a seemingly growing

number of avian flu reports. On March 20, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture

(KDA) announced that the presence of low-pathogenic H7N9 avian influenza

(LPAI) was found in Christian County, located in the western part of the state.

 

The virus was initially detected by the Murray State University Breathitt Veterinary

Center while conducting a routine pre-slaughter test. State Veterinarian

Robert Stout said that there were no clinical signs of the disease in the birds.

 

Poultry and eggs generated an estimated $1.2 billion in cash receipts to Kentucky

farmers in 2015 and is the largest livestock commodity in the state. Kentucky farmers

produced 307.7 million broilers and nearly 1.3 billion eggs in 2015.

 

Kentucky marks the third state to report avian flu this year. Earlier this month, two

Tennessee counties reported three H7N9 influenza outbreaks, two involving highly

pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and one report of LPAI. Alabama has also reported

three outbreaks of LPAI this month. This is the fourth-consecutive year that avian flu has hit the United States. Since the first reported case in 2014, over 40 million chickens and turkeys have died or been euthanized across 15 states in the country. The H7N9 strain found in the U.S. is not the same as the H7N9 virus that has impacted poultry and infected humans in China and across Asia.

 

“Avian Influenza, commonly referred to as ‘Bird Flu’, is a highly contagious

virus that affects domestic poultry and is believed to be spread by migrating wild

birds,” said Stout. “In an effort to protect Kentucky’s backyard poultry, KDA’s Office

of the State Veterinarian (OSV) is placing restrictions on movement of poultry in

Kentucky. The KDA OSV anticipates these protective measures to be temporary

and will be amended as disease and environmental conditions dictate.”

 

Poultry with HPAI viruses can cause severe disease with high mortality

rates. HPAI virus infection in poultry can cause disease that affects multiple

internal organs with mortality up to 90% to 100%, often within 48 hours. LPAI

viruses may cause no disease or show only mild illness, such as ruffled feathers

and a drop in egg production. None of the reported diseases would cause illness

in humans according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

 

“Low-path AI viruses can go undiagnosed because they often produce very little

illness or death,” states Eva Wallner-Pendleton, senior research associate

and avian pathologist from Penn State’s Animal Diagnostic Laboratory. “The

time needed to mutate into high-path viruses varies considerably from weeks

to months, or it can occur rapidly.”

 

Infection with North American strains of LPAI is a common natural occurrence

in wild birds, such as ducks and geese, which usually show few or no symptoms,

she explained. “But if these strains get into a poultry flock, they can mutate

and become highly pathogenic, causing significant mortality.”

 

In response to the outbreak, the KDA has imposed restrictions on poultry

movement throughout the state and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection

Service and USDA are conducting surveillance on flocks within a six-mile

radius of the affected farm. All avian comingling sales and show events are

banned, including stockyards, flea markets, swap meets and shows.

 

Direct farm-to-farm movement within the state will still be allowed, however.

Entry of poultry for private sale or movement must be permitted by the

OSV and must test negative for avian influenza. Poultry coming into the

Bluegrass State must only be taken to Avian Influenza H5/H7 clean facilities.

 

The outbreaks have prompted worry from those in Congress as to U.S.

preparedness in the event of a major outbreak, especially since incoming USDA

Secretary Sonny Perdue has not yet been confirmed. In a letter to acting Deputy

Secretary of Agriculture Michael Young, Senate Agriculture Committee ranking

member Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) inquires how the Trump administration is

responding to the influx of avian flu.

 

“The confirmation of HPAI presents a threat to our nation’s biosecurity, rural

economies and export markets,” she stated in her letter.

 

“An outbreak in 2015 of a different HPAI strain had devastating consequences

for the poultry industry, resulting in the depopulation of 48 million birds.

Nationwide, poultry producers are still reeling from the financial consequences

of the 2015 outbreak. The 2015 outbreak demonstrated that a rapid and coordinated

response to disease outbreaks is critical. We value the important role the USDA

plays in protecting animal health and leading the response to recent outbreaks

of avian influenza.”

 

Sen. Al Franken (D-Wis.) sent a similar letter to President Trump. The 2015

outbreak cost his state economy nearly $650 million, and he urged quick preventive

action by the USDA, and for the Trump administration to adequately fund current

and future efforts to fight the disease.

 

“You inherit a system for fighting avian influenza outbreaks that was improved

after the 2015 disaster through Federal collaboration with state and local

government, universities, and the poultry industry. One of the important pieces

in this fight will be the newly expanded Minnesota Poultry Testing laboratory

that opened in Willmar, Minn. to conduct surveillance of high pathogenic avian

influenza as part of the National Poultry Improvement Plan. However, we must not

be caught flat-footed in responding to this agricultural emergency. I look forward to

working with you to make sure that the federal government is prepared.”

 

Dr. Stout encouraged poultry producers and all other bird owners to take biosecurity

measures to prevent their birds from being infected with avian influenza or other bird

diseases. Suggested biosecurity steps given by the USDA include keeping birds isolated

from visitors and other birds; keeping the area clean by disinfecting clothing, cages,

and vehicles which may have come into contact with outside poultry; know the

signs of illness in birds; and to report unusual signs of disease or unexpected

deaths to their state veterinarian.