Virginia monitors avian influenza

RICHMOND, Va. (WDBJ) - Avian flu is in the spotlight across the country after a farm worker was infected in Texas. And here in Virginia. state agencies are monitoring an increase in cases among wild birds in the eastern part of the state.

They stress the risk of transmission to people is low. And the food supply, including meat and milk, remains safe. But they are urging precautions, especially for Virginia’s poultry industry.

For poultry farms in particular, the spread of avian influenza can be devastating.

“From a poultry standpoint, this disease is hugely concerning and crippling to the industry. Really from the bird standpoint there is no cure for it, so it results in depopulation and that’s our attempt to control the disease,” said Mike Persia, Virginia Tech Professor of Animal and Poultry Sciences.

The latest reports do not include any commercial flocks here in Virginia, but state agencies are urging poultry farmers and others with backyard birds to take precautions.

“The virus is severe and does have potential ramifications for the poultry industry, so it’s important for those that work with poultry or have poultry at home to take proper, strict biosecurity measures to protect those flocks,” said Dr. John Tracey, State Wildlife Veterinarian with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.

And what about the possibility of a widespread outbreak among people? Experts say the risk is there, but it’s low.

“I think the fact that this H5N1 virus is in wild bird populations is not optimal, but I think that this is probably a recognition of risks that have existed for a long time from different viruses throughout human history,” said Dr. Patrick Jackson, an infectious disease expert with UVA Health. “So I think it’s good that we have this awareness and we can do this monitoring, but I don’t think that necessarily means that our risk of a human epidemic happening right now is necessarily elevated.”

We received an advisory on the cases involving wild birds in eastern Virginia from three different agencies involved with Virginia wildlife, public health and agriculture. Jackson says that’s a good thing, because it shows the state is taking a coordinated approach to monitoring this problem.