According to the Indiana state veterinarian, the Indiana Board of Animal Health's quick response to a high pathogenic avian influenza outbreak in January in southern Indiana was crucial to helping keep the disease from spreading to a larger area and having a more widespread impact.
While this latest incident affected just the poultry industry, state veterinarian Dr. Bret Marsh, speaking at last Tuesday's Indiana Milk Quality Conference in Columbus, says there are lessons for dairy producers too.
Avian influenza is a foreign animal disease that affects birds. It can occur in various forms, some more deadly than others. A year ago, when the highly pathogenic H5N2 strain occurred across a wide area of the upper Midwest, it had devastating results for the national poultry industry. It wiped out 48 million egg-laying chickens and caused significant trade problems for U.S. producers. Indiana had one case of avian influenza, found in a backyard flock in Whitley County, but it was a different strain—H5N8, a Eurasian strain.
Fortunately, Marsh said there was no human health threat associated with the 2015 outbreak. But the economic impact was costly, with 223 detections nationwide amounting to $2.6 billion in losses. Sixty countries banned the import of U.S. poultry. Also, egg prices skyrocketed, raising prices for consumers.
If a major animal disease were to happen in the U.S. dairy herd, Marsh said we would see similar trade implications.
On Jan. 15 of this year, another strain of avian influenza, H7N8, was detected in turkeys in Dubois County, Ind. Marsh said this particular virus has never been highly pathogenic, but it proved to be so this year in southern Indiana. All of the turkeys at that farm were killed.
Depopulation began immediately at the infected site, and all commercial flocks within a 10 kilometer area were tested on the first day. Marsh said this was one of the critical pieces of the response plan. Testing took place immediately rather than waiting several days or even weeks later.
On Jan. 16, nine more turkey flocks in Dubois County tested positive for the same strain. However, these farms didn't have any mortalities, and the H7N8 virus was low pathogenic. The difference between the first farm and the nine other farms, according to Marsh, was that the H7N8 virus had mutated from a low path H7N8 to a high path strain at the first farm. With time, the low path strain would have mutated into a high path strain at the other farms.
For producers, early reporting is critical.
"There's an incentive to report and report early," Marsh said, citing USDA's indemnity rules, "because we have to know how many live birds you have on your operation."
He added, "USDA won't pay for dead birds."
Four lessons emerged from Indiana's experience with bird flu.
• First, don't wait. "Your quick response is critical. These viruses won't wait for you," he said. The 2015 detection in Whitley County was reported by an alert auction owner who saw something unusual. It turned out to be a high path event. Also, Purdue's rapid diagnostic testing center worked around the clock for days to make sure the tests were processed in a timely fashion.
• Second, grab your fire extinguisher. In other words, what can you do to contain the disease? Take a proactive stance to containing the disease. Depopulate immediately.
• Third, plan now for faster response and recovery. There is value in pre-planning. The 2016 outbreak claimed 400,000 birds over 38 days in Dubois County. BOAH collaborated with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to dispose of the birds, feed and manure at landfills. This agreement was in place before the outbreak occurred. For producers, how would you euthanize your flock or herd and what is your disposal plan? Is your staff trained? How would you operate in a restricted movement zone? Marsh said dairy producers should ask these questions as well.
• Fourth, the federal approach changes from one year to the next. USDA's approach to biosecurity, payments and cleanup is different than it was. Producers will need accurate information so they can receive payment. Marsh added that Indiana producers have been paid.
Finally, to show how an animal health event would impact the dairy industry. Marsh said BOAH performed a table top exercise involving a disease outbreak at an Elkhart County dairy farm. The exercise revealed there were 106 dairies within 10 kilometers—representing the restricted zone for cattle movements—of the infected site. Marsh said all of the dairies and processors inside that circle would need a permit to move product (milk) or animals.