Poultry Producer Outlines Preparedness for Avian Influenza
US - Comprehensive disease prevention practices established over the years are the most effective ways to prevent avian influenza from infecting commercial poultry, according to Foster Farms, the West Coast's leading poultry producer.
In light of recent
reports from the World Health Organization, U.S. Health and Human Services
and the United Nations that bird migrations in the spring will almost
certainly result in discoveries of AI among wild birds in the Western
Hemisphere, the company believes there is confusion among consumers about
Avian Influenza's potential impact on bird health, human health and on food
safety. There has never been an identification of H5N1 AI anywhere in the
US, and never at Foster Farms. Foster Farms, as the West's leading poultry
producer, is committed to doing everything responsible and necessary to
prevent avian influenza from infecting its flocks and to help the public
understand the measures it is taking.
"There is not an H5N1 AI virus known today anywhere in the world
capable of causing a human pandemic," said Dr. Charles Corsiglia, Manager
of Health Services for Foster Farms. "With all of the current coverage of
this issue and the anxiety it may be producing, it is important to remember
that, at this time, Avian Influenza is a bird problem, not a people
problem. A discovery of a wild bird with H5N1 in North America does not
necessarily mean it will affect humans or our poultry flocks.
"Animals cannot get sick from a disease they are never exposed to. So
the first step is to ensure that our flocks are protected from contact with
outside sources or carriers."
In some areas overseas, especially where there is a prevalence of
traditional live markets and village-based production systems, Avian
Influenza has been devastating to poultry. In the U.S., however, stringent
industry disease prevention programs have been in place for many years. The
Foster Farms program is based on isolation of poultry farms and tight
control of the poultry growing environments within those farms; the
vigilant monitoring, surveillance and testing of the company's poultry
flocks; traffic control and sanitation practices for all vehicles,
equipment and personnel; and the most modern husbandry and veterinary
health programs.
Extensive, timely and practiced quarantine and eradication planning for
any health event that could threaten the flocks is also a part of the
company's biosecurity program. In the unlikely event that a flock is
exposed to disease, Foster Farms would work with USDA, state agricultural
officials and local animal health agencies to humanely destroy and dispose
of any infected flock, and none of the birds would be allowed to enter the
food chain.
"In accordance with our industry trade association, the National
Chicken Council, we are now planning a two mile control zone circumference
around any affected flock," said Dr. Corsiglia, "and the flocks within that
zone would be held and repeatedly tested to ensure they are clear of avian
influenza before going to market."
Foster Farms ranch facilities are located in relatively isolated rural
areas without water ponds and are landscaped to be barren of vegetation
that could attract animals or be inviting for wild birds to roost. Flocks
are housed cage-free in completely enclosed ranches and do not have any
access to outdoors or to other flocks. These ranch houses provide clean,
running drinking water with a nippler drinking system to avoid
contamination; nutritional feed; clean, soft bedding; as well as
temperature controls, fans and air filtration. Feed mills, breeder
facilities, hatcheries and processing plants are not co-located.
Vehicular and personnel access to each facility is kept at an absolute
minimum. Visitors are prohibited, and only authorized vehicles on official
business (feed trucks, poultry transports, veterinarians, etc.) are allowed
to enter bio-secure areas.
All vehicles are washed and disinfected before and after entering the
bio- secure grounds. A small number of employees, dedicated to each
facility, are allowed to enter ranch houses and only if wearing bio-secure
outerwear, sanitized boots and footwear, hats, gloves and hair nets. Proper
disposal procedures eliminate the possibility of crossover through indirect
contact by crews who could transport germs to another site. Visits to both
the farm and the processing plant on the same day are not permitted.
Flocks are under continuous surveillance for any sign of disease, and
each flock is tested prior to processing. Staff veterinarians employed by
Foster Farms closely observe the health of all flocks and take immediate
action to care for the health of our birds. Additionally, on-site USDA
inspectors ensure that birds meet all food quality and safety expectations
before and after processing.
"And while it is important to emphasize our stringent, preventative
approach," said Dr. Corsiglia, "we want to reiterate that transmission of
the virus in cooked poultry products has never been shown to occur either
experimentally or in the marketplace. Proper cooking and handling of
poultry products is yet another safeguard for consumers."
Summary from Dr. Charles Corsiglia of Foster Farms:
- There is not an H5N1 AI virus known today anywhere in the world capable of causing a human pandemic.
- There has never been an identification of H5N1 AI at Foster Farms or anywhere in the US.
- Foster Farms tests every flock for AI before processing.
- No flock with AI would get in the food supply even if AI appeared in the US.
- If AI was found in poultry in the US it would be quickly identified
with routine surveillance:
- Infected flocks would be isolated.
- The birds would be humanely disposed of on the farm and never processed for food.
- The farm would be depopulated of all poultry.
- Birds in the immediate quarantine zone would be tested for the disease.