News

High path avian flu cases mutated from low path strains

USDA Chief Veterinarian Dr. Jack Shere says the Tennessee cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza are mutations of low pathogenic avian flu from wild birds.  Shere tells Brownfield Ag News the threat of avian flu is heightened during migration, but more attention to biosecurity since the last major outbreak helps prevent some cases.

“There are a bunch of new plans, people have done a better job of protecting themselves,” Shere told Brownfield Ag News Wednesday, “but those introductions can come and we have to find the low path and make sure that we’re watching those flocks very closely to make sure there isn’t a mutation that could go to high path.”

In some low path cases, says Shere, producers have chosen to de-populate as a precaution, but others, such as a Wisconsin turkey flock, are recovering.

“We will watch them, test them, (and) when the virus is gone, they’ll have antibodies only,” says Shere.  “They’ll be allowed to go to market, because there’s no risk.  Once the virus is gone, you can transport those birds fairly safely.”

Shere says the highest likelihood of mutation from low path to high path avian flu is in H5 and H7 strains, which the recent discoveries have been.  In addition to the high path cases in Tennessee, there have been low path cases reported in Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama and Wisconsin.

Shere says growers should restrict movement onto farms and should look for high mortality or depressed and quiet poultry flocks as signs of avian flu.

AUDIO: Dr. Jack Shere (11 min. MP3)

The disease is not a food safety issue.