Background
Avian influenza (AI) is an infectious viral disease of birds (especially wild waterfowl such as ducks and geese), often causing no apparent signs of illness. AI viruses can sometimes spread to domestic poultry and cause large-scale outbreaks of serious disease.
Some of these AI viruses have also been reported to cross the species barrier and cause disease or subclinical infections in humans and other mammals. More information on influenza in humans is available from the CDC. AI viruses are divided into two groups based on their ability to cause disease in poultry:
- High pathogenicity (HPAI)
- Highly pathogenic viruses result in high death rates (up to 100% mortality within 48 hours) in some poultry species.
- Low pathogenicity (LPAI)
- Low pathogenicity viruses also cause outbreaks in poultry, but are not generally associated with severe disease.
Prevention
Following strict biosecurity practices is key to preventing HPAI infection. Biosecurity is a set of practices designed to reduce the risk of spreading disease from sick birds and birds carrying the virus, to healthy ones.
We recommend adding these practices to your routine:
- Restrict access to your property and keep your birds away from other birds.
- Keep a designated pair of shoes to wear around your birds, wash clothing after visiting your birds, and use disinfectants correctly.
- Clean and disinfect cages, poultry equipment, and car tires after visiting a farm store, poultry swap, or other location with birds present.
- Keep new birds separate from your flock for 30 days; quarantine returning birds from the rest of your flock after visiting a poultry swap or other event.
- Do not share equipment or supplies with others, but if you must, disinfect it first.
- Wash hands before and after bird handling.
Outbreak information and updates
The following Regional Quarantines are currently in effect to prevent the spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza:
- There are no active Regional Quarantines in Oregon at this time.
For current information about Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) detections throughout the United States, visit the
USDA's HPAI confirmation webpage. Visit
ODA’s news blog for announcements on avian influenza in Oregon, or sign up to receive poultry animal health
updates by email.
A
map of all active outbreak areas in Oregon as well as any active quarantine areas is available online. Interested parties may enter their address to determine whether they are included in a quarantine area.
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Cases in Oregon
After confirmed cases of HPAI in poultry flocks, regional quarantines for all avian species and vehicle traffic involved with avian species may be implemented for areas extending a minimum of 10 kilometers around the infected properties.
If you find a sick or dead bird, don't touch it, report it!
For domestic birds:
Oregon State Veterinarian
AHHotline@oda.oregon.gov
635 Capitol St NE
Salem, OR 97301
Phone: 503-986-4711
Alt Phone: 1-800-347-7028
For wild birds:
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Phone:
1-866-968-2600