Avian Flu Detected In Backyard Flock Of Birds On Long Island

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — The United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service confirmed on Saturday the presence of the highly pathogenic avian influenza in a non-commercial backyard flock of birds in Suffolk County.

A news release issued Saturday did not specify the location in the county or the breed of the birds.

Avian influenza is caused by an influenza type A virus that can infect poultry like chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, domestic ducks, geese, and guinea fowl, and is carried by free-flying waterfowl such as ducks, geese, and shorebirds, according to officials.

Samples from the infected flock, which are not poultry, were tested at the Cornell University Animal Health Diagnostic Center, part of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network, and confirmed at the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa, according to the agency's statement.

The agency is working closely with state animal health officials on joint incident response and state officials have quarantined the affected premises, and the birds on the properties "will be depopulated to prevent the spread of the disease," officials said.

Birds from the flock will not enter the food system, according to officials.

The recent HPAI detections in birds do not present an immediate public health concern, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

No human cases of these avian influenza viruses have been detected in the United States, but as a reminder, officials noted that the proper handling and cooking of poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165 ˚F kills bacteria and viruses.

"As part of existing avian influenza response plans, federal and state partners are working jointly on additional surveillance and testing in areas around the affected flock," the statement continued. "The United States has the strongest AI surveillance program in the world, and USDA is working with its partners to actively look for the disease in commercial poultry operations, live bird markets, and in migratory wild bird populations."

The USDA will report its findings to the World Organisation for Animal Health, as well as international trading partners, and will continue to communicate with trading partners to "encourage adherence to OIE standards and minimize trade impacts," officials said. Trade guidelines call on member countries to not impose bans on the international trade of poultry commodities in response to such notifications in non-poultry, according to officials.

The agency will continue to announce the first case of HPAI in commercial and non-commercial backyard flocks detected in a state but will not announce subsequent detections in the state. All cases in commercial and non-commercial backyard flocks will be listed on the APHIS website at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-disease-information/avian/avian-influenza/2022-hpai.

Officials also advised that anyone involved with poultry production from the small backyard to the large commercial producer "should review their biosecurity activities to assure the health of their birds."

Materials about biosecurity, including videos, checklists, and a toolkit are available at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-disease-information/avian/defend-the-flock-program/dtf-resources/dtf-resources

In addition to practicing good biosecurity, all bird owners should prevent contact between their birds and wild birds, as well as report sick birds or unusual bird deaths to state/federal officials, either through their state veterinarian or through the agency’s toll-free number at 1-866-536-7593.

APHIS urges producers to consider bringing birds indoors when possible to further prevent exposures, officials said.

The Animal Health Protection Act authorizes the USDA to provide indemnity payments to producers for birds and eggs that must be depopulated during a disease response, and it also provides compensation for disposal activities and virus elimination activities. More information on biosecurity for non-commercial backyard flocks can be found at http://healthybirds.aphis.usda.gov.