Summer 2006 - University of Minnesota College of Veterinary ...

FacultyFaculty8OFacultyDave Halvorson, professor andextension veterinarian, avian health, VeterinaryO:and Biomedical SciencesFor some people, avian influenza is a new concept. But Dr.Dave Halvorson has been helping Minnesota poultry producerskeep the virus in check since 1978. Halvorsonreceived the American Association of Avian Pathologists’2005 Bruce W. Calnek Applied Poultry ResearchFacultyFacultyAchievement Award for his contributions to minimizingOthe & impact of avian influenza.AFacultyO:A:O:A:OO:A:&AWhat is avian influenza?Avian influenza (AI) is a viral illness of birds. AIviruses can be low-pathogenic (killing no or fewbirds) or highly pathogenic (killing almost all infectedbirds). &AOO:A:&AHow big of a threat is AI to Minnesota’spoultry industry?Minnesota has never had an outbreak of highly pathogenicAI; our last big outbreak of low-path was in1995. Wild birds introduce AI to commercial poultry, sothe fewer range birds, the less exposure. Since I’ve beenhere we’ve only found two infected chicken flocks. We’vehad over 1,100 flocks of turkeys with influenza, but itsprevalence is declining since range flocks now account forFacultyOO:A:Faculty Faculty&AOO:A:less & than one percent of turkey production.AHow do we deal with it?Minnesota has a voluntary control program we call“responsible response.” We provide educationalmaterials and monitor every turkey flock in Minnesota.When a flock goes to market, blood samples are tested forAI. If we find AI prior to slaughter we let the birds recu-& then let them go to slaughter.Operate, AOO:A:&AWhat’s going on in Asia?They have a high-path virus that has infected andkilled over 70 people. It has been called “bad bird flu.”FacultyOO:A:A:& A&AA:Will that influence our approach in Minnesota?Dr. Dave HalvorsonWe’ve been working on control plans for some time;the situation in Asia has made getting them developedmore critical. It also may affect how people will reactFacultyif we get another outbreak of low-path AI. There’s a lot ofFacultyOpotential & to overreact and make things worse.AOO:O: A:A:&AHow much of a threat is AI to humans inMinnesota?Extremely, extremely, extremely remote. In all ofNorth America there are only a handful of caseswhere people have been infected with AI. The bad bird fluis not in the United States, nor is it likely to get here. It isnot a threat to people in the United States. It is not a foodsafetyissue in the United States.For more information about avian influenza, go towww.cvm.umn.edu/AI.