AVIAN INFLUENZA PROCLAMATION

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VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & CONSUMER SERVICES
DIVISION OF ANIMAL & FOOD INDUSTRY SERVICES
STATE VETERINARIAN'S OFFICE
P. O. BOX 1163
RICHMOND, VA 23218

AVIAN INFLUENZA (H5 and H7) PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, Virginia poultry growers and owners have experienced significant economic losses from Avian Influenza, and

WHEREAS, Avian Influenza outbreak eradication efforts and indemnity payments have been costly to the federal government and the Commonwealth of Virginia, and

WHEREAS, another serious outbreak of Avian Influenza could threaten the future of the Virginia poultry industry, then

Pursuant to the authority of Chapter 27 of Title 3.1 of the Code of Virginia, Article 1, §3.1-724, 730, 734 and 740, and Article 1.1, §3.1-741.4 and 741.5, and 2VAC 5-140-90, Health Requirements Governing The Admission of Livestock, Poultry, Companion Animals, and other Animals or Birds into Virginia, the following requirements are implemented:

A. Requirements governing hatching eggs and certain day-old birds

No person may bring or ship into Virginia any hatching egg, day-old chicken, day-old game bird, or day-old turkey unless:

1. [In the case of the hatching egg] the hatching egg originates from a breeder flock that participates in and meets the requirements of the "U.S. Avian Influenza Clean" program of the National Poultry Improvement Plan and [in the case of the day-old chicken, day-old game bird, or day-old turkey] the hatchery from which the day-old chicken, day-old game bird, or day-old turkey originates only handles hatching eggs that originate from breeding flocks that participate in and meet the requirements of the "U.S. Avian Influenza Clean" program of the National Poultry Improvement Plan; and

2. The person holds a permit for such shipment from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (telephone 540/434-3897); and

3. A statement certifying that the breeder flock shipping hatching eggs and all breeder flocks supplying eggs to the hatchery shipping day-old chickens, day-old game birds, or day-old turkeys participate in and meet the requirements of the "U.S. Avian Influenza Clean" program of the National Poultry Improvement Plan, and the permit number shall be entered in block #10 of VS Form 9-3.

B. Requirements governing all other subject avian species. Except as provided by paragraph A ("Requirements governing hatching eggs and certain day-old birds"), no person may bring or ship into Virginia any subject avian species, unless:

1. The subject avian species is first tested and found negative for Avian Influenza (H5 and H7), or comes from a flock that has first been tested (20 birds per house minimum, or for flocks, of 500 or fewer, 20 birds per flock minimum as long as all houses and pens on the premises are represented) and found negative for Avian Influenza (H5 and H7) within 10 days before the subject avian species enters Virginia: and

2. The person holds a permit for such shipment from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (telephone 540/434-3897).

3. The results of the test for Avian Influenza and the permit number are recorded on a health certificate signed by an accredited veterinarian in the state of origin or on a report issued by a laboratory approved by any state or federal animal health authority.

In testing for Avian Influenza, the accredited veterinarian shall use only the AGID, ELISA, Directigen, PCR or virus isolation test methods in a laboratory approved by a state or federal animal health authority.

C. Exceptions to Proclamation Nothing in this proclamation shall apply to:

1. Any subject avian species or hatching egg passing directly through Virginia to another state without being removed from its primary container;

2. Any broiler less than 55 days of age going directly to slaughter; or

3. Any pigeons, doves, finches, and psittacine birds.

D. Effective date of proclamation This proclamation shall take effect June 1, 2004 and supercedes Avian Influenza (H5 and H7) Proclamation, effective July 3, 2003.

Donald W. Butts, DVM
State Veterinarian
Virginia Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services

June 1, 2004

Signed by:
Donald W. Butts, DVM
State Veterinarian
Virginia Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services
Division of Animal and Food Industry Services

WASHINGTON, Feb. 23, 2004--The U.S. Department of Agriculture today confirmed that the H5N2 strain of avian influenza in a flock of chickens in Texas is highly pathogenic avian influenza, the first such case in the United States in 20 years. USDA is working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to forestall any human health impacts from this outbreak. There is no evidence to date of any human health implications of this HPAI virus in Texas.

“The H5 strain can be high or low pathogenic, and the clinical signs observed at the outset of this outbreak suggested that the disease was low path avian influenza,” said Dr. Ron DeHaven, USDA’s chief veterinary officer. “However, further testing by our National Veterinary Services laboratory in Ames, Iowa, determined that this strain is highly pathogenic avian influenza.” The premises in Gonzales County, Texas, remains under quarantine, and the flock of approximately 6,608 broiler chickens were depopulated over the weekend.

USDA and the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) have started an epidemiological investigation that includes determining the source of the infection and surveillance testing within a 10-mile radius of the infected property.

“We urge everyone who has poultry to practice good biosecurity measures and report any sick birds or death losses to either TAHC or USDA,” said DeHaven. “Proper biosecurity, including wearing protective clothing and disinfecting any equipment before leaving a facility, will ensure this disease does not spread.”

HPAI spreads through bird to bird contact. HPAI viruses can also be spread by manure, equipment, vehicles, egg flats, crates and people whose clothing or shoes that may have come in contact with the virus.

For more information on avian influenza, please visit the APHIS Web site at www.aphis.usda.gov or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site at www.cdc.gov.

Second avian influenza site discovered

The Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA) found Tuesday morning that avian influenza is present on a second farm in Delaware.

The H7-type avian influenza was found in a commercial flock of roaster-type chickens in northern Sussex County, at least five miles away from the southern Kent County farm identified Friday as being infected. A flock of 72,000 four-and-a-half-week old birds in three chicken houses on the northern Sussex County farm is being destroyed this afternoon.

The source of infection to the second farm is unknown at this time. While dangerous to poultry, the H7 strain of avian influenza is not generally considered to pose a danger to humans and is not the same strain that has caused illness and deaths in Asia.

"This development is completely unexpected given the precautions we took, the investigation we made and the industry's expectations of this disease's behavior," Secretary of Agriculture Michael T. Scuse said. "We will be taking immediate actions to contain this disease, but this is now a serious situation for the Delmarva poultry industry."

Avian influenza is most often transmitted from one bird to another through mud and manure that can be tracked from farm to farm on shoes or vehicles. It can also be transmitted from bird to bird through the air.

Other developments Tuesday morning:

§ Tests results received late Monday show that all 20 farms within a two-mile radius of the non-commercial southern Kent County farm with the first detected case of H7 avian influenza were found to be negative for avian influenza.

§ The specific strain of avian influenza at the first farm has been confirmed as H7N2, which has never been known to cause harm to humans. The strain at the second infected farm in known to be H7, but the more specific N-type is not yet known.

§ DDA is asking anyone with small numbers of backyard chickens or other poultry to report any disease or suspicions of disease immediately to the Department at (302) 698-4539.

§ Effective immediately, DDA is canceling all scheduled farmer- and grower-related meetings in order to prevent spread of the disease and encourages all those in the industry to do the same.

§ Effective immediately, DDA is asking that all sales or auctions of farm equipment be cancelled in order to prevent spread of the disease.

§ Effective immediately, DDA is banning all sale of live poultry in Delaware. DDA officials will continue to hold discussions with industry, epidemiology, agriculture, and health officials from surrounding states and the federal government to identify any additional actions required to contain and eradicate this avian influenza situation.

§ A press conference will be held at 4 p.m. Tuesday at the Delaware Department of Agriculture, 2320 South DuPont Highway in Dover, to provide additional details on actions being taken and any impacts on the poultry industry.

Individuals and the media are asked to stay away from poultry farms in Delaware in order to prevent spread of this disease, Secretary Scuse said.

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- A strain of bird flu has been found at four live chicken markets in northern New Jersey, just days after outbreaks at two farms in Delaware led to the destruction of thousands of birds.

New Jersey health officials stressed that the findings are not unusual for the state's live poultry markets and said the strain is not known to be harmful to humans.

Nancy Halpern, the state veterinarian, said the markets likely got the virus from one of the many farms and distributors who supply them. New Jersey has about 35 live chicken markets across the state.

"We believe the virus is coming to (the markets)," Halpern told The Star-Ledger of Newark in a story published Thursday. "They can be doing everything right and still have a market that tests positive."

Halpern said the state tested the markets in late January, as it typically does every winter, and results have been received for about half the sites. She would not identify the markets where the strain was found.

Markets found to be infected are instructed to sell off all birds, and then clean and sanitize all cages and equipment before reopening.

Officials said the strain found in New Jersey is the same one found at two farms in Delaware since last week. The strain is not related to the virulent variety of avian influenza that is blamed for the deaths of at least 19 people in Vietnam and Thailand.

Clifton Lacy, commissioner of the state Department of Health and Senior Services, said there was only a small chance that the weak strain could mutate into a stronger form that could harm humans.

"The key (to preventing problems) is stringent sanitary measures on farms and culling the flocks," he said.

In Delaware, the disease was found last week on a farm in Kent County operated by an independent grower who sold to a live bird market in New York City.

Then on Tuesday, Delaware agriculture officials announced that tests confirmed avian flu on a second farm, saying it was a surprise that creates a "serious situation" for the region's poultry industry.

Even before the announcement about the second flock, China on Tuesday joined Poland, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea in banning U.S. poultry imports because of the previous discovery. Hong Kong had banned the import of live birds and poultry from Delaware only. Russia also temporarily banned Delaware imports.

Exports account for about 20 percent of the U.S. poultry industry.