Equine Infectious Anemia

Equine Viral Arteritis

National Animal Health Reporting System Provides Data for Confirmed Diseases

Feedlot Monitoring Data Show VS What is Happening in Animal Health

Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza

West Nile Virus

Chronic Wasting Disease

Modernization of Ames

National Animal Identification System

Bovine Tuberculosis

BSE Surveillance

Foreign Animal Disease Investigations

Trichinea Certification Program

Pseudorabies

Assessing Brucellosis in the Tristate Area: Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho

Bluetongue Survey

Confiscation of Belgian Sheep in Vermont

Scrapie Eradication Program

Johnes Program

National Veterinary Services Laboratories Domestic Detection and Surveillance Testing

Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Virginia

In April 2002, VS assisted the Commonwealth of Virginia in managing a LPAI outbreak in commercial poultry in Virginia.

A task force of primarily VS personnel, including epidemiologists, veterinarians, animal health technicians, and program personnel from APHIS assisted the State with disease investigations, carcass disposal, preventative measures, epidemiology, general information systems, financial management support, reporting systems, and transportation. Also on hand was a logistical support team from the Forest Service.

The task force worked with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to test for low pathogenic avian influenza to contain the spread of the disease. Mandatory pre-slaughter testing on all breeder birds, commercial turkeys, and broilers was established as well as mandatory testing of any flocks with respiratory symptoms. If a flock tested positive for the disease, officials immediately quarantined the farm and ordered the destruction of the flock within 24 hours if logistically possible.

Overall, the Virginia LPAI outbreak affected 197 premises. Approximately 4.7 million birds were depopulated, with the last positive flock identified on July 2. The task force remained in Virginia until four negative rounds of surveillance of all the farms was completed to ensure that the disease had in fact been eradicated and there would not be a relapse of disease during the winter months. Enhanced surveillance was maintained through the end of the year.

LPAI is not considered a reportable disease under the OIE and poses no human health or food safety threat. Such outbreaks are typically managed by the affected State. However, because the strain of LPAI, H7N2, had the ability to mutate to a highly pathogenic strain of the disease as well as the size of the outbreak, VS stepped in to assist Virginia. At the State's request, as well as in an effort to strengthen the Federal-State partnership, VS ensured that the LPAI outbreak situation was effectively controlled and eradicated.

Numerous important partners worked in cooperation with VS to control the LPAI outbreak, including numerous APHIS programs and support staffs, the U.S. Forest Service, USDA's Farm Service Agency, USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service and Virginia's Secretariat of Commerce and Trade, Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Secretariat of Natural Resources, and Department of Environmental Quality.

The Virginia task force was the first situation in which VS used the ICS, a model for disaster-workforce organization, developed by USDA's Forest Service and adopted by other emergency management organizations and agencies. The success of the ICS during the outbreak led VS to begin a transition from its READEO to ICS, a combined local, State, and Federal national response organization.