Post

APHIS preparing for return of avian flu in fall

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health and Inspection Service is preparing for a return of avian influenza this fall. Deputy Administrator John Clifford testified before a House Ag Subcommittee Thursday saying much of the focus in recent weeks has been on the future.

“We’ve been meeting with our state and industry partners to plan for any potential fall outbreaks.  We learned a lot from what happened in the spring, and we’re taking those lessons; identifying gaps and needs, and revising our plans.”

Clifford was in Des Moines earlier this week for a conference on avian flu and told the subcommittee that in conversations there and in previous meetings, they’ve identified several keys.

“First, we all need to improve our biosecurity.  It’s truly a shared responsibility.  We need to wash equipment, limit the number of people on farms and we need to take steps to limit contact with wild birds.”

He says the rapid depopulation of birds is critical.

“The longer we take to depopulate sick birds, the more virus they produce.  With more virus in the environment, the greater its chances to overwhelm our biosecurity efforts.”

Clifford told the committee APHIS is stockpiling an A-I vaccine, but hasn’t decided whether to use it because of concerns from many trading partners.