Avian Influenza Explained
Did you know that poultry can get the flu like us? Like humans, the Bird Flu (also known as Avian Influenza, abbreviated to AI) is highly contagious and can lead to serious illness. Avian Influenza in chickens can be especially dangerous, often leading to death.
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) as of late April 2022, over 30 million poultry have been affected and AI has been detected in over 50% of states in the U.S. (source). An Avian Influenza outbreak of this magnitude has devastating consequences to flock owners across the country.
While the statistics and fatality rates are scary, keep your chin up, poultry lovers, there’s hope! By implementing careful biosecurity measures for your flock, your chance of being impacted by Avian Influenza can be reduced drastically. Read on to discover more about AI including how it’s spread, symptoms to watch for, how to protect your flock and prevent an outbreak, and what to do if an infection is detected.
What exactly is Avian Influenza?
Avian Influenza (AI) is a viral infection found in over 100 species of birds around the world. This virus impacts wild and domestic poultry: chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, ducks, geese, etc.
Is AI always fatal?
Avian Influenza is classified into two categories: Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza (LPAI) and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). LPAI typically causes no or mild symptoms, while HPAI causes severe disease and has a very high mortality rate in chickens — 90-100% chickens die within 48 hours of infection (source).
What are the symptoms of Avian Influenza in birds?
Recognizing the symptoms of AI is critical to managing an outbreak since HPAI is rapidly fatal once poultry is infected.
Symptoms of HPAI include
Sudden, unexplained death
Lethargy — lack of energy
Decreased appetite
Decreased egg production
Sudden appearance of abnormal eggs — misshapen or soft-shelled
Swelling (edema) of the head, comb, eyelids, wattles, hocks
Purple discoloration (cyanosis) of wattles, combs, legs
Diarrhea (usually extreme)
Nasal (nose) discharge
Struggling to breathe
Gasping
Coughing
Sneezing
How is Avian Influenza spread?
Once introduced to the environment, AI spreads among flocks by direct contact with contaminated water, feces, clothing, or objects (equipment, vehicles, crates, shoes, etc.). Unfortunately, the virus can live on surfaces in the environment for long periods, especially in colder climates (source). Infected birds shed the virus in their secretions (mouth and nose) and feces.
Because the virus can survive on objects, it can be transmitted by visitors handling birds, from the shoes of farm workers entering infected coops, and by chickens drinking from shared waterers.
Introducing a new bird to your flock during a time of an Avian Influenza outbreak is especially dangerous since its previous coop, handling, and traveling method are all possible transmitters of AI.
Can humans be infected with Avian Influenza?
While it’s not impossible for humans to be infected with AI, it is very rare. Infection can spread from bird to human if the virus is inhaled from the air (droplets or dust) or if a person touches an infected surface and then touches their mouth, eyes, or nose (source). Although it is rare for humans to get Avian Influenza, human infection is closely monitored by the CDC as a public health concern. As of late April 2022, 30 million birds have been infected and 0 humans.
How to prevent Avian Flu from contaminating your poultry
As a concerned poultry lover, it's essential you take precautions to avoid an outbreak on your farm. Since Avian Influenza is quickly fatal and easily spread among flocks, prevention is key to keeping your poultry healthy.
Purchase chickens from a trusted source
When purchasing your chicks or adult poultry, know the origin of the birds and have the breeder/hatcher share their biosecurity practices. Avoid purchasing poultry from breeders who are shipping from states with active infections. If you’re in an area already infected with Avian Flu, ask about the conditions they have been kept in. Specifically screen for if poultry were kept in an area that wild, migratory birds can access.
Chicks have a lower potential of spreading Avian Flu if they were hatched in an incubator and have not been exposed to the outdoors. It is still possible for chicks that have not been allowed outside to become infected with AI if they were handled by a person who has interacted with an infected bird or a surface (like a crate) that was shared with an infected bird. Purchasing chicks from a breeder with strong biosecurity practices for anyone who interacts with birds (wearing disposable PPE including gloves, long sleeved coveralls and shoe coverings) further reduces chances of infection.
Avoid cross-contamination
To prevent and reduce the risk of any disease spreading, ensure you use very hot, soapy water to wash all equipment and surfaces that have come into contact with new poultry and separate new poultry for up to 30 days to watch for signs of health concerns. Refer to the signs of illness to screen for Avian Influenza.
Limit flock access to wild birds
Keep your poultry away from wild birds if possible through covered runs or coops. Ensure that the covering over the top of your run will prevent dropped feces from wild birds flying overhead from entering.
Closely monitor flock behavior, appearance, and appetite
Isolate birds that show symptoms of illness for at least 30 days. Avian Influenza is quickly fatal, so an infected bird typically won’t last that long, but many other viral and bacterial infections have a longer incubation period.
Restrict access to poultry to only the necessary personnel
Do not borrow or use equipment from other poultry farms
Designate shoes for your flock area
Wear designated shoes or disposable shoe coverings that are for your flock area only and wash footwear frequently. Since transmission can happen through shoes and clothing, make sure to have designated shoes for your flock and coop areas, so you know they are not contaminated from outside of your property. Have ammonia/bleach spray or disposable booties available for those that don’t have designated shoes.
An outbreak of the highly-contagious Bird Flu can have dire consequences. Poultry lovers should be on guard and take extra precautions to avoid poultry infection. Take extra time to improve your biosecurity practices and be critical of who and where you purchase poultry from. Avian Influenza is a life or death situation for poultry and protecting your flock from this disastrous virus should stay at the forefront. Be weary, aware, and be prepared.