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News Release

Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to Continue Surveillance for Avian Influenza

Richmond, VA — The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) is continuing its surveillance for the highly pathogenic Asian strain of Avian Influenza (HPAI H5N1) this fall and winter. This surveillance is part of a national monitoring strategy (The U.S. Interagency Strategic Plan: An Early Detection System for Asian H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Wild Migratory Birds) developed by the US Department's of Agriculture (USDA) and Interior. VDGIF will be working cooperatively with the Virginia office of the USDA Wildlife Services to collect samples from a variety of waterfowl species across the state. Species were selected for sampling based on their potential to migrate from Alaska or the Greenland/Northeastern corridor, their potential to be in contact with species that migrate from these areas, or because they were considered a sentinel species due to their high susceptibility to the HPAI H5N1 strain.

Avian influenza or "bird flu," is caused by a variety of viruses commonly found in various bird populations, especially waterfowl and shorebirds. Avian Influenza viruses are classified as high or low pathogenicity depending on the response of poultry to infection. The low pathogenic strains generally do not cause obvious signs of infection in birds nor pose a risk to humans. A highly pathogenic avian influenza of the H5N1 type (HPAI H5N1) was detected in Southeast Asia in 1996 and has since spread across Asia into Europe and Africa. HPAI H5N1 is primarily an avian virus, but on occasion, infections have occurred in human working with or handling infected poultry.

To date, the highly pathogenic strain of Asian H5N1 has not been found in North America, and hunters should not be overly concerned about H5N1 at this time. However, hunters should take common sense precautions when handling birds.

Recommended bird handling procedures include:

* Do not handle birds that are obviously sick or birds found dead.
* Keep your game birds cool, clean and dry.
* Do not eat, drink, or smoke while cleaning your birds.
* Use rubber gloves when cleaning game.
* Wash your hands with soap and water or alcohol wipes after dressing birds.
* Clean all tools and surfaces immediately afterward; use hot soapy water, then disinfect with a 10% chlorine bleach solution.
* Cook game meat thoroughly (155-165 degrees F) to kill disease organisms and parasites.

The Department is asking for cooperation from waterfowl hunters in obtaining samples from birds they harvest during the hunting season. Department staff will be out in the field sampling birds at Wildlife Management Areas and popular hunting areas and boat ramps. If you see our staff, please assist us in our efforts and allow your birds to be sampled. The sample procedure consists of a simple oral and cloacal swab and only takes a few seconds to obtain.

You can also assist by reporting any unusual sickness or deaths (die-offs of 5 or more birds) in waterfowl or shorebirds that you might observe. If you see such a die-off, do not pick up the birds. Document the location of the birds and immediately contact the VDGIF at (804) 367-1258 or one of our Regional Offices. If you see only 1 or 2 dead birds, it's probably not cause for alarm, and you do not need to call the Department. However, if you see additional dead birds in the same area in the following days, it could be an indication of a problem, and you should let us know.

More information about the Department's surveillance plans and avian influenza can be found at the following Web sites:

Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries:
http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/wildlife/diseases/avian-influenza.asp

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/index.htm

National Wildlife Health Center:
http://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/research/avian_influenza/avian_influenza.html

Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study:
http://www.scwds.org