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Feds on High Alert for Bird Flu

Monday U.S. Ag Secretary Mike Johanns and Ron DeHaven, administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Service, both emphasized the threat of H5N1 "bird flu" arrival in this country. Stopping short of predicting when the highly pathogenic virus would reach this continent, they confirmed that intense surveillance and testing programs already are underway.

Once H5N1 is first confirmed in Alaska or Canada, "We will not under react to this situation," underscored APHIS Administrator Ron DeHaven. "It's already a virus with potential to affect humans."

In France, for example, a poultry flock was destroyed within three hours of the first positive test. "We'll see that kind of response here," he promises.

Johanns affirmed the H5N1 virus poses no human health risk from eating poultry. But it must be aggressively controlled to minimize risk of changing into a virus that can be passed from human to human, and to minimize its impact on the poultry industry and export trade.

Intense surveillance and testing of migratory fowl winging in over the Aleutian Islands has been underway since last year. Import restrictions and testing have been tightened on exotic bird markets on both coasts. "We're focusing on the Alaskan breeding grounds plus the Atlantic, Mississippi and Pacific flyways," according to DeHaven.

Swift, aggressive 'depop' plan

An unparalleled, coordinated federal and state disaster response plan is already in place. It kicks into gear with the first confirmation of high-path bird flu. "When we have the first presumptive H5N1 test, we'll promptly announce it. And, we'll depopulate on that presumptive," DeHaven adds.

The plan was developed in concert with the poultry industry, state agriculture and health departments, Homeland Security, Health and Human Services, State Department, Department of Interior (wildlife) and international agencies.

Unlike past avian influenza control plans, this one is more extensive due to the virus' risk of mutating to a human version. Once H5N1 makes landfall on this continent, USDA and state agencies would strongly advise poultry producers with outdoor flocks to move them into a controlled shelter to reduce risk of exposure to wild birds and their feces.

According to one state's response plan, swine operations on the premises of a confirmed depopulated poultry flock would also be depopulated. The intent: Reduce risk of the virus mutating into a transmissible human virus.

"To protect public health, we must control (high-path H5N1) at the source," asserts DeHaven. Citing a recent World Bank report, he noted that a pandemic human form could have a global economic impact of $800 billion - plus 100,000 to 200,000 human deaths in America, alone.

USDA has a poultry vaccine "in the bank, but in limited quantities," DeHaven says. "We plan to have 100 million doses. It might be used to protect rare breeding stock within quarantine zones."

Even so, USDA's top disease control man won't endorse widespread vaccination. "Vaccinated species can carry the virus, and produce a positive test. It's easier to reestablish exports without a vaccination program," he concludes.