 |
| Main
Menu |
|
|
|
Avian Influenza
What
Are the Clinical Signs?
The
severity of the disease ranges from mild to rapidly fatal. Clinical signs
vary greatly and depend on many factors including the age and species
of the poultry affected, husbandry practices and the pathogenicity of
the influenza virus strain.
Clincial signs may include:
 |
Ruffled
feathers |
|
Soft-shelled
eggs |
|
Depression
and droopiness |
|
Sudden
drop in egg production |
|
Loss
of appetite |
|
Cyanosis
(purplish-blue coloring) of wattles and comb |
|
Respiratory
distress |
|
Coughing/
sneezing |
|
Edema
and swelling of head, eyelids, comb, wattles and hocks |
|
Blood-tinged
discharge from nostrils |
|
Incoordination,
including loss of ability to walk or stand |
|
Pin-point
hemorrhages (most eaily seen on the feet and shanks) |
|
Increased
mortality in flock |
|
Sudden
death without clinical signs |
How Can Poultry Producers Help Control /Prevent
Avian Influenza?
Poultry
personnel and avian health care specialists should wear adequate safety
equipment, such as boots, coveralls, gloves, face masks, and head gear
and follow appropriate sanitary and disinfectant procedures when on premises
known
or suspected to be infected with the virus.
The following measures should also be employed:
|
Keep
an "all-in, all-out" policy of flock management. |
|
Protect
poultry flocks from coming into contact with wild or migratory birds;
bird proof poultry houses. |
|
Keep
poultry away from any source of water th at may have been contaminated
by wild birds. |
|
Permit
only essential workers and vehicles to enter the farm. |
|
Provide
clean clothing and disinfection facilities for employees. |
|
Thoroughly
clean and disinfect equipment and vechiles (including tires and
undercarriage) entering and leaving the farm. |
|
Do not loan, or borrow equipment or vehicles from other farms. |
|
Avoid
visiting other poultry farms. If you do visit another farm orlive-bird
market, shower and change footwear and clothing before working with
your own flock. |
|
Do
not bring birds from slaughter channels, especially live-bird markets,
back to the farm. |
|
Do
not keep more than one species of bird on farm. |
|