Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Program Aid No. 2212

Protect 

Your Birds From

AvianInfluenza

Photo Credits: The cover image of the turkey is by APHIS employee Joelle Hayden. 

The images of sick birds are USDA file photos. All other images, including the cover photo 

of the chicken, are by APHIS photographer R. Anson Eaglin.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Issued March 2017

Learn More

Veterinary Services, a program within USDA’s Animal and Plant 

Health Inspection Service (APHIS), works closely with States 

and the poultry industry to keep AI from becoming established 

in the U.S. poultry population. For more information on these 

efforts—and how to protect your birds—visit 

www.aphis.usda.gov/animal-health/aiupdates.

You can also contact us directly at:

Veterinary Services

USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

4700 River Road, Unit 46

Riverdale, MD 20737-1231

Telephone: (301) 851-3437

What Is 

Avian Influenza?

Avian influenza (AI), or “bird flu,” is a respiratory 

disease of birds caused by influenza A viruses 

(IAV). IAV can infect domestic poultry (such as 

chickens, turkeys, ducks, and geese) and are 

found naturally in wild birds (such as ducks, 

gulls, and shorebirds). 

IAV are classified based on a combination of two groups of 

proteins: the hemagglutinin or “H” proteins, of which there are 

16 (H1–H16), and neuraminidase or “N” proteins, of which there 

are 9 (N1–N9). These viruses are further categorized by their 

pathogenicity—the ability of a particular virus strain to produce 

disease in young chickens infected intravenously. There are two 

types of pathogenicity: low and high. 

Low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) occurs naturally in wild 

birds and can spread to domestic birds. In most cases, it causes 

little or no clinical signs of infection. LPAI viruses are common in 

the United States and around the world. 

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is extremely infectious, 

often fatal to domestic poultry, and can spread rapidly from flock 

to flock. If HPAI is found in the United States, we must eradicate it 

to protect our country’s flocks and to keep trade flowing. 

How Does 

Bird Flu Spread?

AI spreads quickly by direct, bird-to-bird contact. It can also 

spread indirectly, such as when birds come in contact with 

contaminated surfaces or materials. Migratory waterfowl 

(including wild ducks and geese); smuggled poultry and poultry 

products; and the movement of poultry, poultry equipment, 

and people are potential sources for introducing the disease 

to domestic birds. IAV 

can be moved in manure; 

on egg flats, crates, or 

other farming materials 

and equipment; and even 

by people who may have 

inadvertently picked the 

viruses up on their clothing, 

shoes, or hands. 

Allowing flocks to come in contact with wild birds could put them at risk for infectious diseases 

like HPAI. 

Fencing your bird area can help keep your flock safe from predators and from contact with other 

birds that could spread disease.

Avoid sharing equipment, tools, or poultry supplies 

with neighbors or other bird owners. If you must, 

first clean and then disinfect these items before 

bringing them home. 

Early detection is 

vital to preventing 

the spread of HPAI. 

Here’s what to 

look for:

• Sudden death without 

any prior symptoms 

of illness 

• Lack of energy and appetite 

• A drop in egg production or soft-shelled, 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, sneezing

• Twisting of the head and neck (torticollis) 

• Stumbling or falling down

• Diarrhea

Swelling of the tissue around the eyes and purple 

discoloration of the comb and wattles

Complete paralysis

What Are 

the Signs 

of Avian 

Influenza?

If you see these signs, 

take action right away!

Contact your agricultural extension office/agent, 

local veterinarian, local animal health diagnostic laboratory, or the 

State veterinarian, or call USDA toll free at 1-866-536-7593.

Always Report Sick Birds
Equipment

• Provide footbaths, onsite footwear, or foot covers outside all 

external entrances and require people to use them. Clean 

footwear to remove dirt and other materials before using a 

footbath, and change footbaths at least once a day.

• Provide hand-washing or hand-sanitizing stations at all 

entrances and require people to use them.

• Clean and then disinfect all equipment and tools (including 

carts, loaders, and ramps) before use, and avoid exposing 

them to wild birds.

• Allow only clean, sanitized, and disinfected plastic egg flats 

or new disposable egg flats on egg-laying premises. 

Vehicles 

• Clean and disinfect all vehicles that have traveled to a 

location where other birds are present, including feed stores 

or rendering facilities, before they enter the premises. 

• Prohibit drivers from entering poultry houses or egg-processing 

areas if they stop at more than one farm on any given day. 

• Require manure trucks to be washed with detergent and 

disinfected before arriving at the next farm.

Premises

• Implement a site-specific biosecurity plan and share it with 

all employees.

• Post signs at all entrances warning non-essential personnel 

to stay out of the farm and its buildings. 

• Lock outside entrances to poultry houses during 

nonbusiness hours. 

• Keep wild birds and rodents out of your poultry houses by 

avoiding structural features that may attract them (such as 

roof-top vents and overhead wires) and by plugging and 

patching any exterior holes. 

• Secure feed bins and water to prevent wildlife contamination. 

Personnel

• Provide biosecurity training for new employees as soon as 

they start work and for all personnel yearly. Keep up-to-date 

records of completed training. 

• Insist that employees not own or have contact with other 

birds—including pet birds, chickens, ducks, geese, 

waterfowl, exotic birds, quail, partridges, or pheasants.

BIOSECURITY Is Key to Protecting Your Flock

Backyard Poultry Owners

Follow the six simple biosecurity steps. Make them part of your daily routine to protect your flock. 

More information is available at http://healthybirds.aphis.usda.gov.

Keep Your Distance

• Restrict access to your property and your birds. If visitors 

have birds of their own, do not let them enter your bird area 

or have access to your birds at all. 

• Do not let your birds have contact with wild birds or migratory 

waterfowl because they can carry germs and diseases.

Keep It Clean

• Wash your hands thoroughly before and after working with 

your birds. 

• Wear clean clothes and clean and then disinfect your shoes 

before and after working with your birds. 

• Clean and then disinfect equipment, including cages and 

tools, that comes in contact with your birds or their droppings. 

Be sure to remove manure and other organic debris before 

disinfecting equipment.

• Properly dispose of dead birds.

Don’t Haul Disease Home

• Buy birds from reputable sources so you know you’re getting 

healthy birds. 

• Keep new birds separate from the rest of your flock for 

at least 30 days.

• If your birds have been to a fair or exhibition, keep them 

separated from the rest of your flock for 2 weeks after the event.

Don’t Borrow Disease From 

Your Neighbors

• Avoid sharing birds, lawn and garden equipment, tools, or 

poultry supplies with your neighbors or other bird owners. 

If you do bring these items home, clean and then disinfect 

them before they reach your property.

Know the Warning Signs

• Early detection can help prevent the spread of disease. 

While it may be hard to tell if your bird has AI, when you 

check your birds frequently, you may be able to tell if 

something is wrong. See the next section for signs of 

illness and photos.

Report Sick Birds 

• Don’t wait. If your birds 

are sick or dying, call your 

agricultural extension 

office/agent, local veterinarian, local animal health 

diagnostic laboratory, or 

the State veterinarian. 

Or, call USDA toll free at 

1-866-536-7593,

and we’ll put you in touch 

with a local contact.

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Anyone who owns or works 

with captive poultry—whether 

on a commercial or hobby/

backyard farm—should take 

proper steps to keep AI from 

entering the premises. The best 

way to protect your birds is to 

continually follow comprehensive 

and consistent biosecurity 

practices. 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

Complete the self-assessment of biosecurity practices available at 

www.uspoultry.org/animal_husbandry/assessment.cfm. The U.S. 

Department of Agriculture (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. 

You can also contact your industry organization for additional resources. 

To protect your birds, follow the biosecurity steps below. 

More information is at www.aphis.usda.gov/animalhealth/defendtheflock.