Avian Influenza Findings Emphasize

the Need for Good Biosecurity

As part of its safeguarding mission, the U.S. 

Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant 

Health Inspection Service (APHIS) protects the health 

of our Nation’s livestock and poultry. We respond 

to major animal disease events, helping to keep 

dangerous diseases from spreading. We also work to 

reduce the economic impact of disease events.

Avian influenza is a viral disease that can infect wild 

birds (such as ducks, gulls, and shorebirds) and 

domestic poultry (such as chickens, turkeys, ducks, 

and geese). There is a flu for birds just as there is 

for people—and, as with people, some forms of the 

flu are worse than others. Highly pathogenic avian 

influenza (HPAI) can spread fast and quickly kill 

chickens and turkeys. Wild birds, however, can carry 

HPAI viruses without appearing sick.

The United States experienced a significant outbreak 

of HPAI in 2014–2015, affecting 21 States and 

leading to the destruction of almost 50 million birds. 

Response costs alone were almost $1 billion, and that 

does not include the economic impact on industry. We 

must do everything we can to prevent future outbreaks.

Biosecurity Is Key

Anyone who owns or works with poultry—whether 

on a commercial farm, in the wild, or at a hobby/

backyard farm—should take proper steps to keep 

HPAI from entering their flocks. The best way to 

protect your birds is to follow good biosecurity. Even 

if you are already familiar with biosecurity, it is always 

good to double-check your practices. You are the 

best protection your birds have!

Commercial producers should complete this selfassessment of biosecurity practices: www.uspoultry.org/

animal_husbandry/assessment.cfm. USDA partnered 

with States and industry to develop this assessment 

as an aid for all commercial poultry owners in 

understanding and putting in place enhanced 

biosecurity measures. Your industry organization can 

also point you to further resources.

If you hunt or handle wild birds, see APHIS’ 

factsheet for hunters at www.aphis.usda.gov/

publications/animal_health/2015/fsc_hpai_hunters.pdf.

Backyard poultry owners can follow six simple steps 

for biosecurity. Make them part of your routine to 

lower the risk that disease will enter your flock and 

spread via soil, droppings, and debris. 

1. Keep Your Distance.

Restrict access to your property and your birds. 

Consider fencing off the area where your birds are 

to form a barrier between “clean” and “dirty” areas. 

The clean area is the immediate area completely 

surrounding your birds. The dirty (or “buffer”) area 

is the immediate adjacent area—consider this area 

to be infected with bacteria and viruses, even if your 

birds appear healthy and disease-free.

Create distance and use barriers to prevent contact 

between your birds and wild birds. Wild birds, 

especially ducks and geese, should not have contact 

with your flock because they can carry diseasecausing viruses and bacteria. If your birds are 

outdoors, try to keep them in a screened coop. 

Also, protect your birds’ food and water from wild 

birds or any other wild animals that could bring 

disease to them. 

Allow only people who take care of your birds to 

come into contact with them. Your caretakers should 

not attend bird shows or other events and places 

where birds are present. If visitors want to see your 

birds, be sure they wash up first and clean their 

shoes. Better yet, keep clean boots or shoe covers for 

them to wear. If your visitors have birds of their own, 

do not let them enter your bird area or have access to 

your birds at all.

ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE APRIL 2016 

VETERINARY SERVICES
2. Keep It Clean.

Bacteria and viruses can be picked up on shoes 

and clothing and moved from one place to another. 

Since this can make your birds sick, you need to 

protect their home by keeping it clean.

To keep your birds “disease-free,” have a pair of 

shoes and a set of clothes to wear only around your 

birds. Many people store these clean clothes in a 

covered pail at the entrance to their bird area. Or, 

clean and disinfect your shoes and launder your 

clothes before you check on or work with your birds.

Scrubbing your shoes with a long-handled scrub 

brush and disinfectant will remove droppings, 

mud, or debris. Wash your clothes with laundry 

detergent. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap 

and water before entering your bird area.

Keep cages clean and change food and water 

daily. Clean and disinfect equipment that comes 

in contact with your birds or their droppings. That 

includes tools such as feed scoops, shovels, rakes, 

and brooms. All manure must be removed before 

disinfectant can work, so clean surfaces with soap 

and water first. 

Properly dispose of dead birds by burial or 

incineration or take them to a landfill. Check on 

local ordinances for acceptable disposal methods.

3. Don’t Haul Disease Home. 

Car and truck tires, poultry cages, and equipment 

can all harbor organisms that cause disease. If you 

travel to a place where other birds are present, or 

even to the feed store, be sure to clean and disinfect 

these items before you return to your property.

Taking some of your birds to a fair or exhibition? 

Keep those birds separated from the rest of your 

flock and watch them for at least 3 weeks after the 

event to make sure they did not pick up a disease. 

New birds should be kept separate from your flock 

for at least 30 days before putting them with the 

rest of your birds. To prevent disease, it is best not 

to mix young and old birds or birds from different 

species or different sources.

4. Don’t Borrow Disease From Your Neighbor.

Do not share birds, lawn and garden equipment, 

tools, or poultry supplies with your neighbors or 

other bird owners. If you do bring equipment or 

other items home, clean and disinfect them before 

they reach your property. Also, remember to clean 

and disinfect borrowed items before returning them.

Never share items such as wooden pallets or 

cardboard egg cartons because they are porous 

and cannot be adequately cleaned and disinfected.

5. Know the Warning Signs of Infectious 

Bird Diseases.

Early detection is very important to prevent the 

spread of disease. Here’s what to look for:

• Sudden death without any signs

• Lack of energy and appetite

• Decreased egg production

• Soft-shelled or misshapen eggs

• Swelling of the eyelids, comb, wattles, 

and shanks

• Purple discoloration of the wattles, comb, 

and legs

• Gasping for air (difficulty breathing)

• Nasal discharge (runny nose)

• Coughing, sneezing

• Twisting of the head and neck (torticollis)

• Stumbling or falling down

• Diarrhea

6. Report Sick Birds.

Don’t wait. If your birds are sick or dying, contact 

your local cooperative extension office/agent, your 

veterinarian, the State veterinarian, or your State 

animal/poultry diagnostic laboratory.

Or, call USDA toll free at 1-866-536-7593, and 

we’ll put you in touch with a local contact. There 

is no charge for a disease investigation, if one is 

needed. Early reporting is important to protect the 

health of your birds. 

To learn more, go to:

http://healthybirds.aphis.usda.gov

www.aphis.usda.gov/publications (filter view 

by “Avian Influenza” and “Bird Biosecurity”)

USDA is an equal 

opportunity provider, 

APHIS 91-55-099 employer, and lender.