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Source: Chris Scott, MEATINGPLACE, 1/12/15
Authorities in Taiwan have halted transportation of poultry following the discovery of the H5N2 and highly pathogenic H5N8 strains of avian flu on six poultry farms, while agricultural officials in Utah ask poultry farmers to improve monitoring of their flocks.
Taiwan’s Council of Agriculture is also asking that local farms stop butchering waterfowl until later this week, according to the Taipei Times. The request follows the culling of nearly 13,000 birds over the weekend following the deaths of more than 3,000 geese that died from H5N2 infections. An official at the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine added that the discovery of both strains are new for Taiwan and they probably were transmitted by migratory birds.
Migratory birds are also on the radar for Utah officials, which are asking poultry flock owners to take biosecurity measures now that two strains of highly pathogenic bird flu have been confirmed in wild birds in California, Oregon and Washington State.
Dr. Warren Hess, acting state veterinarian with the Utah Dept. of Agriculture and Food, said the immediate concern focuses on domestic bird populations in Utah, which is on the migratory flight path of wild birds that could transmit the viruses.
“The discovery underscores the importance of biosecurity for backyard bird owners,” Hess said in a statement. He added that while there is no immediate public health concern, Utah’s bird owners are being asked to monitor their flocks closely and report any sick birds or bird deaths to the agency.
Utah’s commercial industry already has what the department called “a robust avian influenza testing program” in addition to routine mortality surveys of wild bird populations. So far, no Utah-based birds have been affected by the outbreaks in other states.
Meanwhile, agriculture officials in Washington State are asking residents in Whatcom County that maintain backyard flocks to begin testing their birds after a second outbreak of the H5 strain was found over the weekend. The tests are voluntary so far and results from other tests are pending, according to a report in The Bellingham Herald.
So far, dozens of countries, including many Asian nations and all 28 European Union nations, have placed a temporary ban against poultry from U.S. farms in the western region affected by bird flu. Sri Lanka, South Korea and Thailand have banned all U.S. poultry and poultry products, regardless of origin. A list of those nations:
Note: FSIS has been informed by APHIS that until further notice, due to the finding of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a backyard flock in Oregon and Washington, the certification statement referring to the United States as free from HPAI cannot be endorsed. Health certificates with certification statements referring to HPAI freedom in a state, region, zone or area can be endorsed for all states except Oregon and Washington. FSIS is updating the individual country export requirements as soon as information is received from APHIS. Meanwhile, while signing export certificates for countries, if there are questions regarding the avian influenza statement on the certificate please call IECPDS at (202) 720 0082 or (855) 444-9904 for clarification.*
Recently Revised Export Requirements
• Macedonia, Republic of (Jan 09, 2015)
• Ukraine (Jan 09, 2015)
• Dominican Republic (Jan 08, 2015)
• Singapore (Jan 08, 2015)
• Korea, Republic of (Jan 08, 2015)
• European Union (Jan 08, 2015)
• Hong Kong (Jan 08, 2015)
• Taiwan (Jan 07, 2015)
• Philippines (Jan 07, 2015)
• Mexico (Jan 06, 2015)
• Indonesia (Jan 06, 2015)
• Canada (Jan 06, 2015)
• Nicaragua (Jan 05, 2015)
• Barbados (Jan 05, 2015)
• Dominica (Jan 05, 2015)
• Uruguay (Jan 05, 2015)
• Guatemala (Jan 05, 2015)
• St. Lucia (Jan 05, 2015)
• Curacao (Jan 05, 2015)
• Cuba (Jan 05, 2015)
• El Salvador (Jan 05, 2015)
• Costa Rica (Jan 05, 2015)
• Sri Lanka (Jan 05, 2015)
• Japan (Jan 05, 2015)
• Peru (Jan 05, 2015)
• Colombia (Jan 05, 2015)
• Belarus (Jan 05, 2015)
• Ecuador (Jan 05, 2015)
• Turks & Caicos Islands (Jan 05, 2015)
• New Zealand (Dec 30, 2014)
For more stories, go to www.meatingplace.com.
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