What is avian influenza (bird flu)?

"Bird flu" is the common name for avian influenza, a respiratory disease of birds that is caused by a virus. It is believed that wild birds, especially migratory waterfowl, carry the virus. However, even if waterfowl have the virus they may not show any signs of having the disease.

How is AI spread?

Experts believe AI is being spread primarily through contact with wild migratory waterfowl and backyard flocks. The virus is shed in secretions from the eyes, nose, and feces. It can also be spread from infected flocks to other farms via contaminated animals, feces, equipment, clothing and shoes, cages or transportation vehicles.

Can you get any type of avian influenza by eating eggs, chicken , turkey or other poultry products ?

There is no danger of acquiring AI from properly cooked food.  AI is caused by a virus.  Like most viruses, avian influenza is destroyed by the heat of normal cooking.

Table eggs are washed and sanitized before being packed in cartons. If any virus were on the shell it would be destroyed by this process.

The best way to reduce the risk of food-borne illness is to thoroughly cook all eggs and poultry products at recommended temperatures and to use appropriate food handling techniques including washing hands, counter tops and any utensils that come in contact with food.

Can humans contract the "birdflu"?

  In Asia , most humans have become infected by close, direct contact with infected chickens or by eating sick chickens that have been inadequately cooked.  Scientists say that the virus has not yet developed the ability to pass easily from human to human, and human-to-human transmission is extremely rare.

The more likely method of humans contracting the disease is through direct contact with infected animals. That is why modern confinement operations, like those you find in Iowa , provide a great defense against the introduction of the disease. In these production systems, the chickens are isolated from the disease vectors outside the barns. They do not mix with wild waterfowl or have exposure to waterfowl droppings. In addition, the people and equipment entering these facilities are restricted and monitored. These types of control measures are called "bio-security" and they are designed to protect the health of the animals and those who care for them.

Is AI a problem in the US ?

What is Iowa doing to prevent AI?

No, AI is not currently considered a "problem" in the US . The strain causing the current international concern is H5N1 and that is not present in the US. The policy of the poultry industry and our government is to eradicate the Highly-Pathogenic form of the disease as quickly as possible by destroying any flocks in which Highly-Pathogenic H5 or H7 (HPAI) types of virus are found.  The poultry are humanely euthanatized and disposed of through environmentally sound methods.

There have been no outbreaks of high-path, reportable strains of AI documented in Iowa . Confinement systems used by most of Iowa 's chicken, turkey and egg producers prevent domestic poultry from having direct contact with free-flying birds. Iowa has state requirements that all livestock and poultry brought into Iowa have a certificate of veterinary inspection to make sure they are disease free.

Iowa also has a mandatory Low-Pathogenic Avian Influenza Monitoring Program covering layers, broilers, turkey and quail. Under this program, producers collect blood samples from flocks and test for AI. If the "high-path" form of AI were present, producers would see symptoms and high mortality displayed very rapidly in the flock. Poultry diagnosticians would follow-up with appropriate tests to confirm if the disease was present.

Iowa poultry producers work in cooperation with university and state poultry health experts. State and federal emergency disease plans exist that will be activated if the disease appears in the US .

National Avian Influenza (AI) Response Plan

Iowa Poultry Emergency Disease Plan

For more information about AI you can visit the following websites:

Information Resources for Avian Influenza: http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/aflu/Avian%20Influenza.htm

Egg Safety Center : www.eggsafety.org

The National Chicken Council http://www.nationalchickencouncil.com or
Avian Influenza "Bird Flu"

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/subjects/en/health/diseases-cards/special_avian.html

or click here for a copy of the 1/31/2006 FAO technical task force bulletin