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Do U Know Avian influenza (bird flu)?

It is vital that all bird keepers in the UK continue to practice the highest levels of biosecurity and be vigilant for any signs of disease. If you are concerned about the health of your birds you should seek advice from your veterinary surgeon. If you suspect that your birds have avian influenza, you should report it to your local Animal Health Office immediately.

Description

Avian influenza is a highly contagious viral disease affecting the respiratory, digestive and/or nervous system of many species of birds. It is caused by a Type A influenza virus. It is a notifiable disease and suspect cases must be notified to the local Animal Health Divisional Veterinary Manager. There are two types of avian influenza virus, low pathogenic (LPAI) and highly pathogenic (HPAI). Within the LPAI types there is evidence that certain H5 and H7 viruses may mutate and become highly pathogenic.

History and spread of the disease

Avian influenza was known as "fowl plague". It first appeared in Italy more than 100 years ago (around 1878). Avian influenza was first recognized in the United States in 1924-25. It occurred again in 1929. It was eradicated both times. Outbreaks due to HPAI were recorded in the Pennsylvania area, USA, in the years 1983-84.

A serious outbreak of HPAI in the Netherlands in 2003, spreading to Belgium and Germany, affected some 250 farms and necessitated the slaughter of more than 28 million poultry.

The H5N1 strain of avian influenza, which surfaced in South East Asia in early 2004, has led to the destruction of millions of birds, and started to spread west through Europe and Africa.

There were also a small number of cases of avian influenza in the USA and Canada early in 2004. The USA strain in Texas was, however, identified as H5N2, not the same as the strain in South-East Asia and the strain in Canada was H7.

A series of wild bird outbreaks have occurred across Europe. The only transfers to domestic poultry have occurred in France, Sweden, Denmark, Germany and Hungary but with early detection and effective control these were eradicated quickly.

The disease

Clinical signs

Typically HPAI presents suddenly with affected birds showing oedema (swelling) of the head, cyanosis (blue discolouration) of the comb and wattles (neck and throat area), dullness, a loss of appetite, respiratory distress, diarrhoea and a drop in egg production. Birds can be infected with LPAI without showing any signs of disease. However, there can be considerable variation in the clinical picture and severity of the disease associated with the type of birds infected and whether birds are also suffering from other diseases. Photos of clinical signs.

Transmission

• Wild birds may be implicated in the introduction of the disease to domestic poultry
• Direct contact with secretions from infected birds, especially faeces
• Contaminated vehicles, equipment, personnel, clothing, water or feed.

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Interesting facts about Massachusetts!

• According to the US Census Bureau, Massachusetts has the lowest divorce rate in the country with 2.2 divorces per 1000 people.

• Although the Library of Congress contains the most volumes in the country at more than 29,550,000, Harvard University's Library is second with more than 15,000,000 and the Boston Public Library is third with more than 14,000,000.

• The Boston Cream Pie was invented at the Omni Parker House in Boston. It is the state's official dessert.

• The first American lighthouse was built in the Boston Harbor in 1716.

• The African Meeting House opened in Boston in 1806. It is the first church in America to be built by free Africans.

• The first sewing machine was built in Boston in 1845.

• Alexander Graham Bell, who invented the telephone, first demonstrated it in Boston in 1876. The first telephone line was installed in a home in Somerville, next door to the current residence of Congressman Capuano.

• Basketball was invented in 1891 by James Naismith in Springfield.

• Volleyball was invented in 1895 by William Morgan in Holyoke.

• Clarence Birdseye revolutionized American mealtime when he invented frozen foods in Gloucester in 1925.

• The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) invented the first computer in Cambridge in 1928.

• The first public school system was founded in Boston in 1635 and Boston Latin was our country's first public school. The Mather School in Dorchester was founded in 1639 as the first public elementary school.

• When you take a stroll on the Boston Common, you are visiting the nation's first public park, established in 1634.

• Harvard University, the country's first college, was founded in 1636.

• The Boston subway is also our nation's first, built in 1897.

• The Cape Cod National Seashore was created after the federal government purchased portions of privately and state owned land. This represents the first time that the federal government purchased land specifically for the purposes of establishing a park.

• The USS Constitution, or "Old Ironsides", is the US Navy's oldest commissioned warship and it is berthed in the Charlestown Navy Yard.

• The first public beach, Revere Beach, is also located in Massachusetts.

What you Know About Anthrax?

Anthrax is a serious disease caused by Bacillus anthracis, a bacterium that forms spores. A bacterium is a very small organism made up of one cell. Many bacteria can cause disease. A spore is a cell that is dormant (asleep) but may come to life with the right conditions.

There are three types of anthrax:

• skin (cutaneous)
• lungs (inhalation)
• digestive (gastrointestinal)

How Do You Get It?

Anthrax is not known to spread from one person to another.

Anthrax from animals. Humans can become infected with anthrax by handling products from infected animals or by breathing in anthrax spores from infected animal products (like wool, for example). People also can become infected with gastrointestinal anthrax by eating undercooked meat from infected animals.

Anthrax as a weapon. Anthrax also can be used as a weapon. This happened in the United States in 2001. Anthrax was deliberately spread through the postal system by sending letters with powder containing anthrax. This caused 22 cases of anthrax infection.

How Dangerous Is Anthrax?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention classifies agents with recognized bioterrorism potential into three priority areas (A, B and C). Anthrax is classified as a Category A agent. Category A agents are those that:

• pose the greatest possible threat for a bad effect on public health
• may spread across a large area or need public awareness
• need a great deal of planning to protect the public’s health

In most cases, early treatment with antibiotics can cure cutaneous anthrax. Even if untreated, 80 percent of people who become infected with cutaneous anthrax do not die. Gastrointestinal anthrax is more serious because between one-fourth and more than half of cases lead to death. Inhalation anthrax is much more severe. In 2001, about half of the cases of inhalation anthrax ended in death.

Symptoms Of Anthrax?

The symptoms (warning signs) of anthrax are different depending on the type of the disease:

• Cutaneous: The first symptom is a small sore that develops into a blister. The blister then develops into a skin ulcer with a black area in the center. The sore, blister and ulcer do not hurt.
• Gastrointestinal: The first symptoms are nausea, loss of appetite, bloody diarrhea, and fever, followed by bad stomach pain.
• Inhalation: The first symptoms of inhalation anthrax are like cold or flu symptoms and can include a sore throat, mild fever and muscle aches. Later symptoms include cough, chest discomfort, shortness of breath, tiredness and muscle aches. (Caution: Do not assume that just because a person has cold or flu symptoms that they have inhalation anthrax.)

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