More Information

Biosecurity For Birds is an outreach and education 

campaign to raise awareness among backyard 

poultry owners about the steps they can take 

to prevent AI and other infectious poultry diseases 

and what to do if they suspect a disease outbreak.

Protect Your 

Birds From 

Avian Influenza

(Bird Flu)

United States Department of Agriculture

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

 USDA file photo

Purple discoloration of the comb 

could indicate HPAI.

 USDA file photo

Birds affected by HPAI could show 

swelling of the head, wattles, 

combs, and face.

 USDA file photo

Hemorrhaging of the skin and 

legs is just one of the signs birds 

might exhibit when infected with 

the HPAI virus.

 USDA file photo

Nasal discharge (a runny nose) 

can be a sign of HPAI. 

What Are the Signs of Bird Flu?

Important Information for Backyard Poultry Owners

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

a virus that infects domestic poultry, 

such as chickens, turkeys, quail, 

and geese, and wild birds such as 

shorebirds and waterfowl.

AI viruses are divided into two groups—highly 

pathogenic (HPAI) and low pathogenic (LPAI)—based 

on the ability of the virus to produce disease and the 

severity of illness it can cause. HPAI spreads rapidly 

and has a high death rate in birds. LPAI causes 

only minor illness and occurs naturally in migratory 

waterfowl. The concern is that some LPAI virus 

strains are capable of mutating into HPAI viruses. 

HPAI viruses are considered exotic or foreign to 

the United States because they do not occur naturally here. HPAI has been detected and eradicated 

by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) three 

times: in 1924, 1983, and 2004. The 1983 outbreak 

resulted in the deaths of about 17 million chickens,

turkeys, and guinea fowl in Pennsylvania and 

Virginia. Managing this outbreak cost nearly $65 

million and caused retail egg prices to increase 

by more than 30 percent. 

What Is Bird Flu?

HPAI can strike quickly and spread 

rapidly without any warning. When 

infected birds do show signs, here’s 

what to look for: 

• Lack of energy and appetite

• Decreased egg production and/or soft-shelled or 

 misshapen eggs

• Swelling of the head, eyelids, comb, wattles, and hocks

• Purple discoloration of the wattles, combs, and legs

• Runny nose, coughing, sneezing

• Stumbling or falling down

• Diarrhea

• Sudden death without any clinical signs

Program Aid No. 2079

For information on keeping your 

birds healthy, visit USDA’s 

Biosecurity For Birds Web site: 

http://healthybirds.aphis.usda.gov

For information about HPAI, contact:

USDA/APHIS/Veterinary Services

National Center for Animal Health 

Emergency Management

4700 River Road, Unit 41

Riverdale, MD 20737-1231

Phone: (301) 851-3595

Fax: (301) 734-7817

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its 

programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, 

and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, 

sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all 

or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. 

(Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who 

require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large 

print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720–2600 

(voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, 

Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 

20250–9410, or call (800) 795–3272 (voice) or (202) 720–6382 (TDD). 

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Issued May 2011

Cover image: USDA, Judy Rodriguez
How USDA Works To Keep 

HPAI Out of the Country

HPAI is a threat to U.S. poultry. The 

United States is the world’s largest 

producer and exporter of poultry meat 

and the second largest egg producer.

Total U.S. poultry production is valued at nearly 

$32 billion annually. A major outbreak of HPAI would 

be costly to the poultry industry, consumers, and 

taxpayers and could harm backyard flocks as well. 

To protect the U.S. poultry population, USDA quarantines and tests live birds imported into the United 

States to ensure that they do not have any foreign 

animal diseases such as HPAI. USDA also maintains 

trade restrictions on poultry and poultry products 

from countries and/or regions where HPAI has been 

detected in commercial or traditionally raised poultry. 

Surveillance is another important part of USDA’s 

efforts to protect the health of U.S. flocks. USDA 

monitors for illegally smuggled poultry and poultry 

products through an anti-smuggling program in 

coordination with the U.S. Department of Homeland

Security’s Customs and Border Protection. In addition,

USDA works with a nationwide network of Federal 

and State partners, university personnel, USDAaccredited veterinarians, and industry members 

to monitor for HPAI in key areas of the country’s 

bird population. These areas include live bird 

markets, commercial flocks, backyard flocks, and 

migratory birds. 

 USDA file photo

Allowing backyard flocks to come 

in contact with wild birds could put 

them at risk for infectious poultry 

diseases such as HPAI.

 Polly Berkenstock

Fencing your bird area can help 

keep your flock safe from predators 

and from contact with other birds 

that could spread disease.

 Deanna Stinnet

Don’t share equipment, tools, or 

poultry supplies with neighbors 

or other bird owners. If you must, 

disinfect these items before bringing them home.

 tale_feathers.com 

Migratory waterfowl could potentially 

introduce HPAI to your birds. So be 

sure they don’t share a water source 

with your birds, and keep your birds’ 

food protected.

How Does Bird Flu Spread?

HPAI spreads quickly by direct, 

bird-to-bird contact. The disease can 

also spread indirectly, for example, 

when birds come in contact with 

contaminated surfaces or materials.

Migratory waterfowl (i.e., 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. The bird flu virus can 

travel on manure, egg flats, crates, other farming 

materials/equipment, and people who have picked 

up the virus on their clothing, shoes, or hands. 

3. Don’t haul disease home. Buy birds from repu-

 table 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 your 

 flock for 2 weeks after the event.

4. Don’t borrow disease from your neighbors. 

 Do not share garden equipment or poultry supplies 

 with your neighbors or other bird owners. If you do 

 bring these items home, clean and disinfect them 

 before they reach your property.

5. 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 fre-

 quently, you may be able to tell if something is wrong.

6. Report sick birds. Don’t wait. If your birds are 

 sick or dying, call your local cooperative extension

 office, your veterinarian, or the State Veterinarian 

 or 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 who can help you.

Six simple steps can 

help keep your birds—and 

those of your neighbors—

free of disease.

1. Keep your distance. Restrict access to your property 

 and your birds. If visitors have birds of their own, do 

 not let them near your birds. Your birds should not 

 have contact with wild birds and migratory waterfowl 

 because they can carry germs and diseases.

2. Keep it clean. Wash your hands thoroughly before 

 and after working with your birds. Wear clean clothes 

 and scrub your shoes with disinfectant. Clean and 

 disinfect equipment, including cages and tools, that 

 comes in contact with your birds or their droppings. 

 Remove manure before disinfecting equipment. 

 Properly dispose of dead birds.

 How Can You Protect Your Birds? 

 Getty Images