
Confirmed Avian Influenza Case in Arkansas -
Commercial and Backyard Poultry Keepers Urged to Review Biosecurity
Oct. 6, 2022 - Avian influenza has been confirmed in Madison County, Arkansas.
The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) confirmed the presence of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in an Arkansas commercial poultry operation. Reports indicate that the virus is being carried by certain types of waterfowl within our migratory flyway. This indicates that the affected area could spread.
To mitigate the disease risk from contact with the birds or their droppings the Arkansas
Livestock and Poultry Division strongly recommends taking the following steps for
the next 30 days, especially within our northwest quadrant:
- Keep your birds indoors or covered to prevent exposure to wild or migratory birds.
- Restrict access to any source of water that may have been contaminated by wild birds.
- Implement strict biosecurity on the premises. Alert all farm personnel of the increased
risk of HPAI. Especially, focus biosecurity methods on preventing any exposure to
wild waterfowl or their droppings.
- Monitor all flocks for increased mortality or clinical signs and report any concerns
to your veterinarian, the Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Division at 501-823-1746,
or your local Arkansas Cooperative Extension County Agent. Find your county office.
Please be advised that the next step to control disease may involve a quarantine of your premise, which would mandate the above measure. For more information on Avian Influenza or Biosecurity, we encourage you to visit the USDA’s Defend the flock website.
Download Update from Dept of Ag
Can highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) affect humans?
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the recent HPAI detections in birds do not present an immediate public health concern. No human cases of these avian influenza viruses have been detected in the United States. As a reminder, the proper handling and cooking of poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165 ˚F kills bacteria and viruses.
How do I keep my birds safe from avian influenza?
Biosecurity is a very important tool to use to prevent entry of a disease into your flock. It is extremely important that anyone involved with poultry production should review their premise Biosecurity procedures and protocols. This should be done by small backyard hobby flock owners and growers of commercial poultry to protect the health of their birds. Commercial poultry growers should follow company Biosecurity guidelines and work closely with their flock supervisors.
Hobby/ backyard/ small flock owners can follow these procedures:
Recognize the signs of illness.
You as the poultry owner know your birds and in fact you probably look at your birds
more than once a day. As such you can detect early signs of illness such as a change
in the bird’s behavior; you just know that your birds are just not acting right.
There are many poultry diseases but typically some of the first signs of illness are:
- a drop or cessation of egg production
- lack of appetite
- sneezing, gasping
- diarrhea
- drop in water consumption
- discharges from the eye and/or nostril
- ruffled feathers, huddling
- bird keeping to itself
Do Not Bring Disease Home With You
If you purchase new birds make sure you look at them closely (even if from a reputable
source) to check for signs of illness. This also is correct if it is your own bird
returning from a poultry exhibit. Admittedly, poultry exhibitors are trying to place
at a show and a sick bird does not win. Unfortunately, it is possible that a bird
could still be incubating a disease and some diseases cause few signs unless a bird
becomes stressed.
It is always best to isolate (quarantine) new and returning birds away from your home flock for a period of at least 30 days. Most diseases should manifest within this quarantine period. Isolate the birds as far away from your home flock as you can (at least 100 feet, if possible) and be sure and care for these quarantined birds last. Since equipment such as crates, nest boxes, etc could be contaminated with feces, exudates, cages, etc that contain disease organisms it is best to not borrow equipment. If that is not possible then thoroughly clean and disinfect the equipment before taking it onto your premise and before and after usage.
If you visit an area where there are waterfowl (such as ponds, lakes, and hunting) or areas with poultry make sure you change clothes and shoes and wash your hands before checking on your birds.
Clean and disinfect.
Keep poultry facilities clean and free of weeds, debris, spilled feed etc. In addition,
clean areas around your poultry pens and facilities
Practice good vermin control.
Mice and rats can carry diseases that can infect your birds. They can also attract
snakes. Fly, buffalo gnat, and mosquito control are also important since these insects
can carry and spread diseases. Wild birds should be excluded from your poultry pens
as well. Secure poultry pens are necessary to exclude other wildlife, which may be
predators of your poultry or could bring in diseases. Although not vermin, pets should
also be kept out of the poultry pens.
Keep away/Restrict visitors
Visitors could accidentally contaminate your poultry. Restrict visitors to your farm/poultry
facility. Have all visitors clean their shoes/boots and disinfect before visiting
your poultry flock. A pair of boots for visitors to wear and a pair you wear just
around your birds are even better. Keep your poultry pens and facilities locked to
prevent access.
Get Help/Report the Unusual
If you see something in your flock unusual or is “just not right” get help immediately.
Contact your local veterinarian, local county extension agent, Extension poultry veterinarian,
state veterinarian, or USDA hotline. If you have a bird die contact your state or
university diagnostic laboratory about submitting the bird for testing.
For more information visit the APHIS Defend the Flock Resource Center
For questions on poultry diseases, care, and husbandry contact your local county Extension office or contact the numbers listed below:
- Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Division Headquarters. info@agriculture.arkansas.gov, (501) 823-1746
- John G. Nilz, DVM, Arkansas State Veterinarian. john.nilz@agriculture.arkansas.gov, 501- 297-2250
- Blake Walters. Livestock and Poultry Field Services. blake.walters@agriculture.arkansas.gov, (870) 519-0725
- F. Dustan Clark, DVM, Arkansas Extension Poultry Veterinarian: fdclark@uark.edu, 479-957-4245