Variable global strategies for avian influenza outbreak control and eradication

Authors: Swayne, David

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/20/2017
Publication Date: 3/7/2017
Citation: Swayne, D.E. 2017. Variable global strategies for avian influenza outbreak control and eradication. In: Proceedings of the The Association of Production Directives and Managers of the Poultry Producer Companies of Mexico 2017 Conference, March 7-9, 2017, Queretaro, Mexico. 2017 CDROM.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Since 1959, 40 epizootics of high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) have occurred with 35 outbreaks using stamping-out programs exclusively, leading to rapid eradication, and five outbreaks having also used vaccination as a control tool. The majority of the recent outbreaks of H5N1 HPAI have occurred in Indonesia, Egypt, Vietnam, and Bangladesh, in decreasing order, where the virus is endemic in poultry populations. Since 2014, large outbreaks have occurred in poultry in USA, Taiwan, South Korea and African, Middle Eastern and European Union countries. The majority of the Gs/GD HPAI cases were H5N1 but assortment of the virus has produced H5N2, H5N3 and H5N8 HPAI viruses of the 2.3.4.4 clade. Other sporadic outbreaks of H5 and H7 HPAI have been reported around the world, most recently in France, United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and Mexico. Control leading to eradication has been achieved by stamping-out programs, but some countries have utilized vaccination as a management tool. However, vaccination alone will not lead to eradication. Poultry producers should know: 1) Biosecurity is the most important tool to prevent the introduction of wild bird avian influenza virus or poultry influenza virus onto a naïve farm, 2) Highly pathogenic and H5/N7 low pathogenicity avian influenza viruses are nationally and internationally reported and controlled diseases, 3) Stamping-out of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus is the most direct and efficient form of eradication, and 4) Avian influenza vaccines can reduce disease but cannot absolutely prevent infection or result in eradication, and may complicate disease surveillance. Vaccination can reduced poultry illness and death and reduce spread of the HPAIV.