COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Three worrisome strains of avian flu have been detected in birds out West. These viruses can cause serious disease in birds, and their appearance has prompted poultry veterinarians at The Ohio State University to recommend that Ohio’s commercial producers and backyard chicken enthusiasts alike take precautions to protect their flocks.
The strains are related to a virus that circulated in Asia and Europe in 2014. In December 2014, they were detected in the Pacific Migratory Bird Flyway, in Washington, Oregon, California, Utah, Idaho and Nevada. These viruses are classified as highly pathogenic, meaning they are extremely infectious and fatal for birds.
Migratory birds appear to be playing a role in spreading the virus, said Mohamed El-Gazzar, poultry veterinarian for Ohio State University Extension. OSU Extension is the outreach arm of the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.
It’s important to note that these strains are not considered a human health concern, said El-Gazzar, who is also an assistant professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine. This has been strictly an avian disease outbreak — human illness has never been reported in relation to this outbreak in North America, Europe or Asia, and poultry products such as chicken and turkey are safe to eat.
Still, producers and poultry owners should take all necessary measures to protect their birds, El-Gazzar said.
According to the Ohio Poultry Association, the state’s poultry industry, including egg, turkey and chicken production, is valued at $786 million. Ohio ranks second in the nation in egg production and ninth nationally in turkey production.
Earlier this month, El-Gazzar and colleague Richard Slemons, professor emeritus in the College of Veterinary Medicine, sent a notice to producers through Ohio State’s Ohio Veterinary Newsletter.
“The first thing is to try to avoid direct contact between any domestic or captive type of bird and wild migratory birds,” El-Gazzar said. “Producers are generally very good about protecting their birds, but they need to be aware that there’s an increased risk.”
Backyard poultry owners should consider keeping their birds in enclosed covered runs for the next several months or until the threat from the viruses passes, he said.
Poultry owners should not be complacent about these viruses even though they have not been detected in the Midwest, El-Gazzar said.
Samples from wild birds collected during the recent hunting season have not yet been analyzed, and few additional samples will be collected until summer. So, although there is no evidence that these viruses might be circulating in Ohio, authorities can’t be certain the Buckeye State is completely free of them, he said.
“Dr. Slemons has had a very successful program surveying the Mississippi and Central flyways for the past 20-25 years,” El-Gazzar said, noting that Ohio is part of the Mississippi flyway. “He’s the influenza surveillance expert, and even in his opinion, surveillance is always behind.
“So, while we don’t think there are these highly pathogenic viruses in the Mississippi flyway, we don’t really know for sure.”
Anyone who keeps or breeds raptors should also be aware of these viruses, as they have been detected in birds of prey out West, too, El-Gazzar said.
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