Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) is a serious disease and requires rapid response because it is highly contagious and often fatal to chickens. APHIS works with its federal, state, local and industry partners to quickly mobilize a response to any HPAI findings. The goal is to quickly contain and eradicate the disease, protecting our poultry industry, and in turn, the American consumer.
APHIS has specific emergency response procedures in place for responding to HPAI. These procedures were used and updated following the 2014-2015 outbreak. They proved effective when dealing with the HPAI findings in 2016 and 2017.
If your farm is ever affected by HPAI, you’ll need to know what to expect during the response process. APHIS put together a series of materials to help you understand the steps we’ll take and your responsibilities at each stage.