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Also See: PandemicFlu.gov &
AvianFlu.gov
WASHINGTON, March 20, 2006 - Secretary of
Agriculture Mike Johanns, Secretary of the
Interior Gale A. Norton and Secretary of Health
and Human Services Michael Leavitt today moved
to further ensure the protection of people,
domestic poultry and wild birds by unveiling an
enhanced national framework for early detection
of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in
wild migratory birds in the United States. This
readiness plan and system builds on,
significantly expands and unifies ongoing
efforts among federal, state, regional and local
wildlife agencies. Those agencies have been
monitoring and testing for the presence of the
highly pathogenic H5N1 virus in migratory birds
for several years. The increased efforts come as
the spring migration of migratory birds is
underway and the spread of avian influenza
continues across continents.
Wildlife experts and public health officials
have been monitoring the spread of the highly
pathogenic H5N1 since it first appeared in Hong
Kong in 1997. Since 1998, the Department of
Agriculture (USDA) has tested over 12,000
migratory birds in the Alaska flyway and since
2000, USDA has tested almost 4,000 migratory
birds in the Atlantic flyway. All birds in these
flyways have tested negative for the highly
pathogenic H5N1 virus of concern. Since the
summer of 2005, the Department of Interior (DOI)
has been working with the State of Alaska to
strategically sample migratory birds in the
Pacific flyway. DOI has already carried out more
than 1,700 tests on samples from more than 1,100
migratory birds. There have been 22 avian
influenza isolates identified, but none have
been highly pathogenic.
"The Department of Agriculture is working on
many fronts, with many partners to further
strengthen our ability to detect and respond to
highly pathogenic strains of avian influenza,"
said Johanns. "By intensifying our monitoring of
migratory bird populations, we increase the
likelihood of early detection, which is key to
controlling the spread of the virus,
particularly in our domestic poultry. Having
said that, it's important for the public to know
two things; a detection of Asian H5N1 in the
United States would not signal the start of a
human pandemic; and properly prepared poultry is
safe to eat, because proper cooking kills this
virus."
Wildlife biologists, migratory bird
specialists, veterinarians and epidemiologists
from the USDADOI and Health and Human Services
(HHS), along with the International Association
of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, National
Association of Public Health Veterinarians and
the State of Alaska have developed "An Early
Detection System for Asian H5N1 Highly
Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Wild Migratory
Birds -- U.S. Interagency Strategic Plan".
"We do not know for sure what role wild
migratory birds play in the movement of this
virus, but the potential exists for them to
carry this virus to North America, and we have a
responsibility to prepare for that possibility,"
said Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton.
"Working closely with our state, local and
federal partners, we can detect and respond to
disease events involving wild birds and screen
birds for highly pathogenic H5N1 virus. These
actions will help us provide an early warning to
the agriculture, public health and wildlife
communities if the virus is detected in
migratory birds."
The ability to effectively prevent the spread
of highly pathogenic H5N1into domestic poultry
operations is greatly enhanced by being able to
rapidly detect the pathogen if it is introduced
into wild migratory birds in the United States.
The interagency plan outlines five specific
strategies for early detection of the virus in
wild migratory birds, including:
- Investigation of disease-outbreak events in
wild birds
- Expanded monitoring of live wild birds
- Monitoring of hunter-killed birds
- Use of sentinel animals, such as backyard
poultry flocks
- Environmental sampling of water and bird
feces
Because Alaska is at the crossroads of bird
migration flyways, scientists believe the strain
of highly pathogenic H5N1 currently affecting
Southeast Asia would most likely arrive there if
it spread to North America via migratory birds.
Thus, the plan recommends a prioritized sampling
system with emphasis in Alaska, elsewhere in the
Pacific Flyway and the Pacific islands, followed
by the Central, Mississippi and Atlantic
Flyways. In 2006, USDA and its cooperators plan
to collect between 75,000 to 100,000 samples
from live and dead wild birds. They also plan to
collect 50,000 samples of water or feces from
high-risk waterfowl habitats across the United
States.
The wild bird monitoring plan is part of the
President's National Strategy for Pandemic
Influenza Preparedness. President Bush allocated
$29 million in his avian influenza supplemental
funding package for implementation of the wild
bird monitoring plan.
HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt noted that highly
pathogenic H5N1 is still a disease of birds, not
people, and that most human cases in other
countries have come from extensive direct
contact with infected birds or their droppings.
He cautioned, however, that scientists are
concerned that the virus could develop the
ability to efficiently transmit from person to
person, and "such a development could trigger a
worldwide pandemic."
Leavitt said HHS is using a multi-pronged
approach, which includes increased monitoring to
spot disease outbreaks at home and abroad;
development of vaccines and vaccine
manufacturing capability; stockpiling of both
vaccines and antivirals; planning at the state
and local level, and communications to inform
the public.
Noting that the disease could show up in many
communities all at the same time, Leavitt called
local preparedness "the foundation of pandemic
readiness" and said: "any community that fails
to prepare - with the expectation that the
federal government can offer a lifeline - will
be tragically wrong." To assist local efforts,
HHS is holding planning summits in all 50 states
and providing checklists to local and state
governments, businesses, schools, home health
care providers, faith-based and community
organizations and individuals and families.
Historically, wild birds have been natural
reservoirs for low pathogenic avian influenza
viruses and often show little or no signs of
disease. Various forms of low pathogenicity
avian influenza have existed in the United
States since the early 1900's. They can cause
varying degrees of illness in birds and have not
posed a public health threat. If a virus mutates
or mixes with another avian influenza virus it
can become highly pathogenic, causing higher
fatality rates in birds. The HPAI strain of H5N1
currently affecting countries in Asia, Africa,
Europe and other geographic areas is highly
infectious between birds, but has never been
found in the United States. Other forms of HPAI
have been detected in domestic poultry three
times in this country: in 1924, 1983 and 2004.
The 2004 outbreak was confined to one flock and
eradicated. There were no human illnesses
reported in connection with these outbreaks,
however the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian
influenza virus has caused human illness and
death in other countries where people have
handled or been in close contact with infected
birds.
Additional information about avian flu and
security relating to domestic poultry, wild bird
monitoring and research, as well as pandemic
planning nationwide is available at the U.S.
government's comprehensive website for pandemic
preparedness at
Departamentos De Agricultura,
Interior Y Salud Amplían Despistaje De La
Influenza Aviar De Tipo H5N1 Altamente Patógeno
En Aves Migratorias
USDA Bird Flu Information
Fact Sheet: Screening For
Highly Pathogenic H5N1 Avian Influenza In
Migratory Birds
Fact Sheet: United States
Prepares For Highly Pathogenic H5N1 Avian
Influenza In Wild Birds
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