The last detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the United States was nearly five months ago. However, the industry and USDA officials remain on watch for a potential winter wave of the avian influenza. The first outbreak of avian influenza last year was in December and was detected in a flock of birds in Douglas County, Oregon.
John Clifford, deputy administrator for veterinary services at USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, said in a recent interview with Agri-Pulse that he is hoping AI will not return. “We all hope for the best and prepare for the worst, but it is too early in my opinion to say one way or the other,” Clifford said.
Surveillance of migratory birds continues, but no cases of the disease have been detected since June with the exception of one “resident bird” in Utah in July. APHIS is “very well prepared” for a potential outbreak in the coming months, Clifford said. Since the outbreak, APHIS has hired approximately 200 people and trained them in surveillance and early response procedures. The agency has also updated protocols to try to ensure infected facilitates are depopulated within 24 hours of disease confirmation. “We’re ready if we have to react,” Clifford said.
APHIS has also streamlined the process for indemnifying producers, according to Clifford said, but he noted that there is still some work to be done on calculating payments.
