2007 PRESS RELEASES

July 20, 2007
STATE VETERINARIAN LIFTS SOME RESTRICTIONS ON MOVEMENT OF POULTRY LITTER
~ Shows and Sales of Live Poultry Still Banned Until July 30, 2007 ~

During routine testing of poultry flocks prior to slaughter, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) determined July 6 that a turkey flock in Shenandoah County tested suspicious for antibodies of low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI), a finding which was confirmed by the USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa. In response to that discovery, State Veterinarian Richard Wilkes canceled all shows, sales and exhibitions of live poultry statewide and placed restrictions on the movement of poultry litter in a 17-county area in the Shenandoah Valley through July 30, 2007.

Effective July 19, poultry litter movement in the Shenandoah Valley region may resume with the exception of litter from farms within a two mile radius of the infected flock. The 17 counties affected by the ban were Albemarle, Alleghany, Augusta, Bath, Clarke, Culpeper, Frederick, Greene, Highland, Madison, Orange, Page, Rappahannock, Rockbridge, Rockingham, Shenandoah, and Warren. The statewide ban on shows, sales and exhibitions remains in effect until July 30.

Since July 9, intense surveillance testing of commercial and backyard flocks in a six-mile radius around the affected farm and on farms associated with the affected farm by service vehicles has not identified any other infected flocks. Therefore litter management activities pose little risk of spreading A.I. As of today, poultry house crustouts, cleanouts, litter movement and land application of litter may resume on farms outside the two mile protective zone around the affected flock.

Dr. Wilkes stated, “Even though we have done intense testing in the Shenandoah Valley Region and all the results have been negative, we cannot neglect the continued need for intense biosecurity. Everyone associated with the poultry industry should take all necessary precautions to prevent the spread of any disease to any poultry flock, large or small, in the Commonwealth.”

The following biosecurity practices are standard poultry industry recommendations for litter movement:

• Complete the visitor log at all farms; keep vehicle windows closed on farms
• Do not enter the poultry houses unless pre-authorized by the grower or the poultry company.
• When exiting the farm, put disposable boots in a receptacle provided at the farm. Spray shoes with disinfectant before entering your vehicle and wash and disinfect hands, rubber boots and any tools used on the farm.
• Prior to moving litter off the farm of origin by truck, tarps must be tightly fastened over the edges of the truck bed so that litter cannot blow out. The exterior of the trucks must be swept clean and the undercarriage, wheels and wheel wells sprayed with disinfectant. This can be done with a hand sprayer.
• After delivering litter at the point of destination, truck beds should be swept clean and disinfected. Disinfection can be done with a hand sprayer.
• For all service vehicles, the floorboard area, including pedals and the entire floor, must be cleaned and disinfected daily. This is needed even if wearing disposable plastic boots.
• The current laws and regulations of the Commonwealth pertaining to poultry litter management should be followed.

Click here for more information on the current situation on A.I. in Virginia.