H1N1 is More Than Just Hog Industry Threat
Feds ready contingency plan for hogs and poultry.
John Vogel
Published: May 8, 2009
Yesterday afternoon, federal health and USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service officials conferred over a national surveillance plan to detect the H1N1 "swine flu" virus in the U.S. swine and poultry industries. No documented cases have been reported, at this point, of the current virus type crossing from humans to pigs or poultry, notes Dr. Gary Smith, chief of epidemiology and public health at University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine.
But this swine flu virus is a new recombination of human, swine and avian serotypes. And, Smith adds, "With the human variation, we have absolutely no idea where this came from."
The swine industry, already on biosecurity alert, has suffered major economic loss due to import bans on U.S. pork — even though there's zero risk of humans contracting the flu virus from meat. Poultry industry officials have been mum on the risk, but have also put producers on biosecurity alert.
"The poultry industry is at risk, as well. But this is not a food safety issue," stresses Sherrill Davison Yeakel, head of Penn Vet's Avian Pathology Laboratory.
The laboratory has been the "early-warn" system of past avian influenza outbreaks. "In poultry," she adds, "we don't want to vaccinate unless we run into a very serious problem."
Response plans stand ready
APHIS's H1N1 influenza response plan for swine and poultry would be similar to the rapid response plans for past "bird flu" outbreaks, suggests Davison Yeakel. "We must bring confidence to the food industry, to avoid adverse market impact, as experienced with hogs."
Key to these plans is a geographic information system-based rapid response, identifying pork or poultry facilities around an outbreak epicenter. In the case of poultry, susceptible flocks would be removed from the area to prevent continued spread of the virus.
USDA's rule on highly pathogenic avian influenza is to depopulate flocks. "But if the virus is only mildly pathogenic," she adds, "they may not depopulate."
Enforcing biosecurity measures is crucial. Producers and employees with flu-like symptoms should stay away from production facilities for at least seven days, counsels Dr. Jacob Werner, Penn State professor of Veterinary Medicine.
Limiting vehicle traffic near production facilities is also very important, adds Davison Yeakel. Vehicles coming onto farms are one of the most common disease carriers.
Davison Yeakel and Smith hope that the H1N1 threat will subside with warmer weather. The virus has a relatively short life — "as little as two hours on your coffee cup," adds Smith.
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