| Avian
Influenza Experts Address Current Poultry and Human Health Issues
Workshop:
April 18, 2006, Farm Show Complex, Harrisburg, PA
 A recent workshop for
the public and for poultry producers provided the latest scientific
information on a variety of subjects. Experts from Penn State College
of Agriculture Sciences, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture,
and USDA-APHIS presented information on these and other current
avian influenza (AI) topics:
- On-farm
biosecurity measures that can be implemented now
- Measures
to reduce the risk of AI to pastured birds and other specialty
or small-scale flocks including game birds
- Methods
to minimize the risk of bird flu and other diseases for producers,
their families, and others who come in contact with poultry
- What will
happen if high pathogenic avian influenza (highly pathogenic Avian
Influenza) is found in the United States, in your state, in your
community, or your my flock
- The symptoms
in birds and poultry that have contracted AI
- Where to
go for help and to get more information
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Introduction
 Moderator:
Dave Filson (Emergency Response & Emergency Preparedness
Coordinator, Penn State Extension)
Experts presented the following information on avian influenza:
Nationwide
Detection and Intevention Strategies
 Presenter:
Dr. Chrislyn Wood
Avian influenza intervention strategies for the United States
including targeted surveillance, detection, border protection,
trade restrictions, and education; preparedness and response efforts
if highly pathogenic Avian Influenza is detected in the United
States; what to expect if an outbreak occurs
PA
Department of Agriculture's Role in Detection and Intervention
 Presenter:
Dr. Paul Knepley D.V.M.
The current worldwide status of hi path AI; the different types
of AI strains; the natural sources for AI viruses; why highly
pathogenic Avian Influenza is unique; the history of AI in the
United States; how this contagious disease spreads from bird to
bird; how long the virus will remain infectious in different environmental
conditions; the difference between avian influenza, pandemic influenza,
and seasonal influenza; whether poultry is safe to eat; who to
call to report unusual symptoms in poultry
Protecting
Small Flocks from AI
 Presenter:
Dr. Eva Wallner-Pendleton
What you can do now; which poultry
management types are more at risk; changes you can make to
improve biosecurity; the real risks; countering unreasonable public
fear; reasons to be concerned
about wild migratory waterfowl; separation and sanitation; monitoring
flock health; the National Poultry Improvement Program; laboratory
testing;
who to contact for help
Potential Impact of AI on Human Health
 Presenter:
Dr. Bhushan Jayarao PhD., MPH, MVSc
Protecting you and your
family from communicable diseases; sanitation and hygiene; how
AI or other infectious disease could eventually enter the United
States; how to
prepare; what might happen if we are not prepared;
the three scenarios for AI or other infectious disease in the
United States;
monitoring birds and people; signs and symptoms in humans and
birds; disinfectant materials that will inactivate the AI virus
on surfaces; personal protection and sanitation practices that
should be available and in use on every poultry farm; social
and
work strategies
that can be used to minimize the spread of a contagious disease;
where to go for help or additional information
Questions and
Answers
Presenters and Panelists
 What is realistic biosecurity; the use of vaccines; influenza
and other species; farm visitors; cleaning, sanitizing,
and
disinfecting; wild waterfowl; manure management in the event
of an outbreak; resources and where to go for help; and many
more questions
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The
Presenters
Dr. Bhushan Jayarao
Extension Veterinarian and Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary
and Biomedical Science, College of Agricultural Sciences, Penn
State; PhD, Food Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health; MPH,
Occupational and Environmental Health; M VSc, Food Hygiene
and
Veterinary Public Health
Dr. Paul Knepley
Director of the Bureau of Animal Health and Diagnostic Service,
State Veterinarian and Executive Director of the Bureau of
Animal
Health and Diagnostic Commission, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture;
As the Director of the Bureau of Animal Health and Diagnostic
Services,
Dr. Knepley oversees programs designed to detect, prevent, and
control diseases of livestock, poultry, aquaculture species,
and other domestic
animals.
Dr. Eva Wallner-Pendleton
Extension Veterinarian and Senior Research Associate, Department
of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, College of Agricultural
Sciences,
Penn State; DVM, MS, Diplomat ACPV. Her field of study
includes diagnostic pathology of poultry, game birds, and exotic
species. Her research interests are in food safety and microbiology
and metabolic and toxicological diseases of birds. Her areas
of interest
include avian diseases and management interaction.
Dr. Chrislyn Wood
Veterinary Medical Officer / Poultry Specialist with USDA-APHIS
Veterinary Services. She works mainly with the Live Bird Marketing
System in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Her responsibilities include
organizing avian influenza surveillance, live bird market stakeholder
education, and poultry disease trace back activities. She received
her DVM from Michigan State University, and BS in Agriculture/Animal
Science from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Chrislyn
began working as a Veterinary Medical Officer for USDA in July 2004.
Panel Participants
David R. Smith
Owner/operator of Springfield Farms in Sparks, Md. Springfield Farms
is a diversified pasture-based small family farm. Mr. Smith is President
of the American Pastured Poultry Producers Association and is a
member of the Pennsylvania Association of Sustainable Agriculture.
Brian
Moyer
Owner/operator of Green Haven Farm in Berks County, Pa. They market
their chickens, eggs, lamb, and goat cheese through 2 CSA’s,
2 farmers markets, restaurants, and direct on-the-farm sales. They
are the founders of the Skippack Farmers’ Market, where Mr.
Moyer is also the market manager. He also helped start up the Indian
Valley Farmers’ Market in Telford. Mr. Moyer is a member of
the board of the American Pastured Poultry Producers Association
(APPPA).
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