Press Release

Jim Rogers	(202) 690-4755
Suzan Holl	(301) 734-6464

UNITED STATES DECLARED FREE OF HIGH PATH AVIAN INFLUENZA VIRUS

WASHINGTON, Aug. 20, 2004 B The U.S. Department of Agriculture=s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service notified the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) this week that the United States is now free of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) according to the definition of OIE's Terrestrial Animal Health Code. Countries that wish to have a disease status changed by OIE are required to notify that organization when the appropriate definition has been met.

"It is always a pleasure to be able to call the OIE and report that we've eradicated a disease in this country," said John Clifford, USDA's chief veterinarian. "The HPAI eradication project was such a success because of the cooperation between APHIS, state and local governments and the poultry industry."

USDA's APHIS sent a letter of confirmation to OIE on Aug. 19 stating that the required six months have passed since the detection, eradication, cleaning and disinfection of two live bird markets and one backyard flock in Gonzalez County, Texas, were completed. Targeted and extensive surveillance has not detected any further evidence of the virus. The United State's HPAI-free status has been confirmed by the OIE in its weekly animal health news report (www.oie.int).

AI viruses can be classified into low pathogenic and highly pathogenic forms based on the severity of the illness they cause. Most AI virus strains are low pathogenic and typically cause few or no clinical signs in infected birds. AI viruses can infect chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, ducks, geese and guinea fowl, as well as a wide variety of other birds. Low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) viruses are endemic in wild waterfowl and migrating bird populations worldwide. Therefore, it is not a disease APHIS can expect to totally eradicate. Consequently, each year there are some occurrences of LPAI in domestic poultry, particularly where birds are raised outdoors. However, some LPAI virus strains are capable of mutating under field conditions into HPAI viruses.

HPAI is an extremely infectious and fatal form of the disease for chickens and can strike poultry quickly without any infection warning signs. Once established, the disease can spread rapidly from flock to flock. APHIS works to keep HPAI from becoming established in the U.S. poultry population. It is essential for the U.S. poultry industry to be alert to this disease threat.

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