Avian Influenza has once again appeared in the US with Kansas, Arkansas, and Missouri being the most recent states to test positive for this highly pathogenic disease with heavy losses for farms that have come down sick.
Extension Poultry Educator Dr. Gregory Martin reminds us cleaning and disinfection (C&D) are the vanguards of a good biosecurity program. If you are moving equipment from one animal facility to another it should be second nature to C&D the equipment to prevent diseases from moving with you. Equipment that may appear clean may prove to become a foamite, a vehicle to transport bacteria and viruses to another location.
To fight this, start by washing down the equipment to remove visible dirt. Use a soap solution to soap down the equipment and brush down all surfaces. After rinsing with clear water, apply a sanitizer that will coat the surface and kill any remaining microbes. For boots, tools, and vehicles be sure to periodically C&D to bring down bacterial levels. By doing a great job of C&D you put a barrier between your animals and infectious agents.
Source:psu.edu