Avian Influenza Biosecurity

There is currently a serious outbreak of Avian Influenza in Mexico. This disease is causing dramatic production losses in many poultry flocks. It is very important to prevent the spread of this disease into the U.S. It is very easy to spread this disease on clothing and through human contact. Do not visit or go near any poultry flocks in Mexico. The following guidelines have been developed by the Delmarva poultry industry, they have given the Texas industry permission to adopt and use them. These guidelines should be followed to provide protection against introduction of avian influenza into the U.S.

1. Keep poultry houses locked; fasten from inside while inside.

2. Resident flock manager should have clothing (including shoes, boots, hat and gloves)

when caring for flocks separate from those worn off the farm.

3. Flock manager and other caretakers should not visit any other poultry flocks.

4. Do not allow visitors in or near the poultry houses.

5. After caring for the flock, change clothes completely and wash hands and arms before leaving premises.

6. Essential visitors such as owners, fuel and feed delivery drivers, meter readers, poultry

catchers and haulers, and service personnel must put on protective outer clothing

including boots and headwear prior to being allowed near the flocks.

7. Monitor vehicles entering premises for poultry pickup or delivery, feed delivery, fuel

delivery, etc. to determine if they have been scrubbed down and the undercarriage and

tires spray disinfected prior to entering.

8. All coops, crates and other poultry containers or equipment must be cleaned and

disinfected prior to use and following use.

9. Sick or dying birds should be submitted to a State Laboratory for a diagnosis.

Commercial growers should contact their flock supervisor.

10. Dead birds must be properly disposed of by burial or incineration.

11. Persons handling wild game (especially waterfowl) must change clothes completely and bathe prior to entering poultry premises.

12. Keep "restricted" signs posted at drive entrances.

En Español

1. Mantenga cerrados los gallineros o el corral, ciÇrrelos por dentro cuando estÇ adentro.

2. El residente encargado de la bandada debe vestir diferente ropa a la que viste cuando no estÇ en

la granja (incluyendo zapatos, botas, sombrero y guantes) cuando cuida a la parvada.

3. El encargado de la paravada y otros cuidadores no deben entrar a los corrales de otras parvada

de aves.

4. No permita que visitantes entren ni se acerquen a los gallineros o a los corrales.

5. DespuÇs de cuidar a la parvada, cİmbiese de ropa completamente y lİvese las manos y los

brazos antes de salir del local.

6. Los visitantes necesarios tales como los due§os, los repartidores de combustible y de pienso, el

lector del contador de la luz, el personal que recoge y transporta aves y el personal de servicio

deben vestir ropa protectora externa incluyendo botas y sombrero.

7. Controle los veh°culos que entran al local para recoger o entregar aves, entregar pienso,

entregar combustible y lo demİs. Aseg£rese que hayan sido lavados y que el chasis y las llantas

hayan sido rociadas con desinfectante antes de entrar.

8. Todos los gallineros, las cajas y otros contenedores o equipo para aves deben ser limpiados y

desinfectados antes y despuÇs de su uso.

9. Las aves enfermas o moribundas deben ser enviadas a un Laboratorio Estatal para ser

diagnosticadas. Los avicultores comerciales deben comunicarse con sus encargados de parvada.

10. Las aves muertas deben ser eliminadas debidamente mediante entierro o incineraci¢n.

11. Las personas encargadas de cuidar fauna silvestre (especialmente aves acuİticas) deben

cambiarse de ropa completamente y ba§arse antes de entrar al local donde estÇn las aves.

12. Mantenga letreros de "zona prohibida" en las entradas.