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Protocols helped prevent spread of HPAI

Tennessee’s state veterinarian says department preparedness helped to prevent the spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) following last Friday’s outbreak at a broiler breeder flock in southern Tennessee.

Dr. Charles Hatcher says more than 70,000 birds in 8 barns were depopulated following the positive test.  “One of the keys to controlling this particular highly pathogenic strain, which is a North American wild bird strain, is to depopulate within 24 hours of confirmation,” he says.  “That is exactly what has happened in this case.”

He says only one out of 8 barns on the infected site had an outbreak of high-path avian flu.  “To me that means there was excellent biosecurity between the houses,” he says.  “If common sense were to prevail if it was tracked from the index house to the other houses that should have happened.  They should have broke with it and it did not happen.  So biosecurity was excellent.”

Hatcher says the typical surveillance area is 6.2 miles, but the department expanded the area to 10 miles and monitoring will continue.  “The first round of tests from the 10 mile radius were all negative,” he says.  “We’re encouraged by that – but testing will be ongoing.  We’ll be doing testing for certain flocks in that area three times a week.”

The director of Tennessee’s Emergency Management Agency Patrick Sheehan says state officials began putting together a protocol when other states in the Mississippi Flyway experience outbreaks of HPAI.  “The state of Tennessee put together a plan and executed it,” he says.  “We’ll continue to monitor and prepare.  I think what we’ve seen here is a great example of state government, local government, and the private sector working effectively together to safeguard industry, agriculture, and the health of Tennesseans.”

South Korea announced Monday it has closed its market to US poultry and eggs because of the outbreak.  A similar ban was issued following the 2015 avian flu outbreak.  It was lifted last July.  In addition to South Korea’s nationwide ban, regional bans have been put in place by seven other countries.

Officials remind consumers that high-path avian influenza does not pose a risk to the food supply.