Defend the Flock: Biosecurity is key to preventing bird flu in poultry

FORT COLLINS, Colo. — When it comes to highly pathogenic avian influenza, biosecurity is the key to mitigating the risk of disease spread.

Nancy Hannaway, HPAI biosecurity assessment lead at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, shared insights into the virus during a webinar hosted by APHIS Veterinary Services.

“It’s critical that people take this seriously,” she said. “We can slow down or stop the spread, but it takes all of us to do it.”

What is it?

Hannaway: “Avian influenza or bird flu is a contagious viral disease of domestic wild birds. It’s a major threat to the poultry industry, animal health, trade and economy worldwide. Caused by influenza type A viruses, the diseases vary in severity depending on the strain and species affected.

“Highly pathogenic strains are deadly to domestic poultry and can wipe out entire flocks in just a matter of days.”

How serious is it?

Hannaway: The highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak in poultry between 2022 and 2025 marks the first instance of continuing detection in domestic poultry through summer seasons in the United States — a trend which emerged globally in recent years.

This is considered to be one of the largest and most widespread outbreaks in global history, affecting millions of birds in numerous countries across North America, Europe, Asia and beyond.

What are the signs?

Hannaway: The signs are sometimes just sudden death without any prior symptoms of illness. Lack of energy, appetite, drop in egg production, swelling of the eyelids, comb, waddles and shanks, purple discoloration, gasping for air, nasal discharge, coughing, sneezing, twisting of the head and neck, stumbling or falling down and diarrhea.

How does it spread?

Hannaway: Seventy-five percent of HPAI detections are consistent with wild bird introductions. Twenty-five percent are consistent with farm-to-farm transmission.

What can we do?

Hannaway: Maintaining farm biosecurity can reduce the spread of infection. The most impactful measures are keeping away rodents from feed sources, requiring farm personnel to change clothes and shoes, and cleaning and disinfecting shared vehicles and equipment.

What resources are there?

Hannaway: For smaller producers and operations, we have lots of resources on our Defend the Flock site. We also have a biosecurity plan for poultry producers with 500-plus birds. We offer two biosecurity assessments to identify simple, practical steps to strengthen biosecurity at your facility.

What’s USDA’s strategy to curb HPAI?

Hannaway: Invest in the gold standard: biosecurity. We want to increase relief to aid the farmers and again this is through our biosecurity incentive program, remove unnecessary regulatory burdens on the chicken and egg industry, and explore innovative strategies for protecting poultry and also to consider temporary import export options and evaluate the best international practices.

Learn more at https://tinyurl.com/Flock-Defender.