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Avian Influenza - The Facts

Information From Nebraska on the Avian Bird Flu

What you need to know about Bird Flu in North America: Fortunately the highly pathogenic strain of bird flu (HSN1) that is causing so much concern in Asia and Europe has not come to the United States or Nebraska. Less virulent forms have been found in North American migrating birds for many years but are not a health threat to humans working with chicks of domestic origin. We have been carefully monitoring poultry flocks in Nebraska for the past two years and have found NO evidence of bird flu. It is completely safe to incubate and handle chicks in the classroom without fear of contacting bird flu. If this situation were to change, all county extension offices will be immediately notified of the new situation and what to do. As teachers work with the incubation project, please practice common sanitation procedures of washing your hands with soap before and after handling incubating eggs and chicks. Bacteria can enter the pores of the eggs from human hands, as well as, from dirty incubation environments. Also, if you have a student that has traveled to or from Asia, please ask them to completely wash and clean all clothing before coming back to school. Human transfer of disease is a much larger concern to the poultry industry right now, than birds migrating across the oceans.

Backyard Poultry Flock Health Surveillance Program: For the past two years the University of Nebraska Animal Science Department has been testing birds of all types for known poultry diseases including Avian Influenza virus. Fortunately we have found NO positive avian flu birds. However, we must remain diligent about our testing. If you have sick birds or want to test your birds just to make sure they are clean, you may contact our office at 472-6422 or 472-6451 to set up a FREE consultation and disease testing. Let's all work together to keep Nebraska birds and flocks healthy and clean of foreign diseases.

If you have any further questions, you may contact Extension Poultry Specialist  Dr. Sheila E. Scheideler at 472-6451 or sscheideler1@unl.edu.