|  |  | Avian Influenza
(08/07/2006)Avian influenza (AI) viruses can be classified as low-pathogen (LPAI) or high-pathogen (HPAI) based on the severity of the illness they cause in poultry. A strain of HPAI known as H5N1 has caused the deaths of hundreds of millions of birds, both by disease and by preventive measures such as culling.Outbreaks of avian influenza H5N1 occurred among poultry in eight countries in Asia (Cambodia , China, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam) during late 2003 and early 2004. Since late June 2004, new outbreaks of influenza H5N1 among poultry have been reported by countries in Asia, Africa and Europe.National Strategy
The President announced the National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza (Strategy) on November 1, 2005. The Strategy provides a high-level overview of the approach that the U.S, Government (USG) will take to prepare for and respond to a pandemic.
- Preparedness and communication
- Surveillance and detection
- Response and containment
CBP Action
CBP’s top priority is keeping terrorists and their weapons from entering the United States, while welcoming all legitimate travelers and trade. CBP also prevents narcotics, agricultural pests and smuggled goods from entering the country. This includes defending America’s borders as much as possible from the introduction of avian influenza by:
- Awareness: Collection, analysis, and dissemination of information to allow CBP to anticipate requirements and to react effectively. Includes training for CBP personnel, brochures and awareness campaigns for traveling public, and on-line information. Also includes monitoring outbreaks throughout the world and maintaining information flow with trade, travel, and federal partners such as the Coast Guard, USDA, CDC, HHS, TSA.
- Prevention: Detection, deterrence, and mitigation of an outbreak and steps necessary to prevent the spread of disease. This includes obtaining advance traveler/cargo data for all modes of travel, screening at our borders, and import restrictions on birds and poultry.
- Protection: Safeguarding our employees, citizens, critical infrastructure, essential services, and our economy from impacts resulting from a pandemic. Includes protective measures for travelers and general members of the public and isolation of infectious travelers and/or cargo.
- Response: Coordination and management of the Federal response to address the short-term and direct effects of an incident or outbreak. Includes communication and response with general public, media, government agencies, federal partners, state/local authorities, trade entities, and international bodies.
- Recovery: Coordination of federal efforts to restore services and rebuild communities after an outbreak of influenza in the U.S. This will include a coherent set of actions and security measures to restore essential/critical services and normal operations within government.
Traveler Safety and Health
Visit CDC’s traveler information webpage
(
CDC’s traveler information ) to consult with a healthcare provider before traveling, especially to countries affected by Avian Influenza. Also:
- Avoid traveling if you are ill with an infectious disease and always notify the airline or carrier and CBP officials if you are ill or have been in close contact with birds, poultry products, or severely ill people in an affected country.
- Prevent the spread of infectious disease by frequent hand washing, good personal hygiene, and the use of tissues or paper towels when sneezing or coughing. Alcohol based waterless hand gels are also effective when hand washing facilities are not available.
- Monitor your health for ten days after returning from countries affected by avian influenza and notify your healthcare provider if you become ill.
Guidelines for Importing Live Birds and Bird Products
Live Birds- All imported live birds (other than from Canada) must be quarantined for 30 days at a USDA quarantine facility and tested for the avian influenza virus before entering the country.
- Live poultry or commercial birds imported from Canada are not required to be quarantined when presented at a land border port of entry. However, a valid veterinary health certificate issued prior 30 days of importation and endorsed by a full-time salaried veterinarian of the Canadian government must also accompany commercial bird shipments. Inspection by Veterinary Services personnel at the port of entry is also required.
Pet Birds- All non-U.S. origin pet birds must enter the country and undergo quarantine at only three designated ports of entry (New York (718) 553-1727); Miami (305) 526-2926; Los Angeles (310) 725-1970).
- U.S. origin pet birds that have been out of the United States for 60 days or less require USDA veterinary inspection at port of entry but are not required to be quarantined. However, quarantine applies to returning U.S.-origin pet birds from HPAI H5N1 affected countries.
- Those importing pet birds into the United States from Canada by air or by boat are required to have a USDA import permit (VS Form 17-129).
- Pet birds on vessels (other than U.S. & Canada origin pet birds) must remain on the vessel, below deck, and caged within the cabin.
Poultry Products- Processed goods from H5N1 affected countries may enter the U.S. however; entry requires an Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s (APHIS) Veterinary Services permit and certification that specified risk mitigation measures to eliminate the disease have been performed.
- As a primary safeguard, USDA maintains trade prohibition on the importation of poultry and unprocessed poultry products from countries where the HPAI H5N1 strain has been detected.
Mitigating Factors
- To date, no human cases have been linked to exposure to wild birds. Close contact with infected poultry and other domestic birds remains the most important source of human infections.
- There have been only two human cases with no known exposure to infected birds or bird products.
Affected Countries
As of April 12, 2006, avian flu has been reported in more than 55 countries, and there have been 194 human cases of low pathogenic avian influenza in 9 countries with 109 deaths. Since December 2003, avian influenza A (H5N1) infections in poultry or wild birds have been reported in:
- East Asia & the Pacific: Cambodia, China, Hong Kong (SARPRC), Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia (peninsular), Mongolia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam
- Europe & Eurasia: Albania, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia & Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom
- Near East: Afghanistan, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Palestinian Auton. territories
- South Asia: India, Kazakhstan, Pakistan
- Africa: Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Niger, Nigeria, Sudan, Zimbabwe
Countries Affected by Current USDA’s Temporary Ban on Poultry
East Asia and the Pacific
- Burma (Mayanmar)
- Cambodia
- China
- Indonesia
- Japan
- Laos
- Malaysia (peninsular)
- South Korea
- Thailand
- Vietnam
South Asia- Afghanistan
- India
- Kazakhstan
- Pakistan
Near East
- Gaza and the West Bank
- Israel
- Jordan
Europe & Eurasia
- Albania
- Azerbaijan (USDA defined restricted zone only)
- France (USDA defined restricted zone only)
- Hungary (USDA defined restricted zone only)
- Romania
- Russia
- Sweden (USDA defined restricted zone only)
- Turkey
- Ukraine
Africa- Burkina Faso
- Cameroon
- Djibouti
- Egypt
- Ivory Coast (Cote d’Ivoire)
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Sudan
For more information on Avian Influenza and what you can do to protect yourself, contact:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(
CDC ) : or (404) 639-3534 or (800) 311-3435
Department of Health and Human Services
(
HHS ) : or (202) 619-0257 or (877) 696-6775
World Health Organization
(
WHO ) : or (202) 974-3000 |
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