3 things you should know about avian influenza

Time and time again, poultry farming communities across the globe have to grapple with outbreaks of avian influenza. We stand with poultry farmers and veterinarians in their fight against this dangerous disease. Through their hard work and dedication, they contribute to feeding the world.

1. We need to limit the impact of avian influenza

Avian influenza threatens the livelihoods of poultry farmers, be their business big or small. Together with local authorities, veterinarians, and others working in the poultry industry, farmers are working hard to keep the disease at bay. “We want to thank poultry farmers for their important work to contain avian influenza and support them where we can,” shares Stéphane Lemière, veterinarian and Head of Global Technical Services Poultry at Boehringer Ingelheim. Because the repercussions of an outbreak are severe.

Loss of animals, loss of income, disruptions to trade – poultry farmers and others working with poultry animals have to face these challenges yet again in 2020. Avian influenza is one of the biggest concerns in the poultry industry worldwide. It’s hard to measure the exact economic burden of the disease, yet the number of birds affected gives us an idea.

2. Two forms of avian influenza affect us in different ways

Infografic about the two forms of Avian Influenza

In birds, the symptoms of low pathogenic forms of avian influenza may seem very inconspicuous: Fewer eggs laid, mild respiratory issues, and so on. However, as they weaken the immune system, birds also become more susceptible to other dangerous viral and bacterial infections like Marek’s Disease, Infectious Bursal Disease, and more.

Clinical signs of the highly pathogenic form are much more acute. They can range from extreme depression of the birds to coughing, swellings of the head, diarrhea, fewer eggs laid, and more. After a rapid spread of the disease, many birds die in a very short amount of time.

3. There are resources you can use. Find help here!

“Everywhere around the world, countries follow different strategies to fight the disease. Often, they follow a multi-faceted approach using different tools,” explains Antoine Leplat, veterinarian and Head of Marketing Poultry at Boehringer Ingelheim. These can range from monitoring birds to vaccinating them, implementing biosecurity protocols, and many more. Control measures like restricting access to affected areas or the culling of birds are also common.

If you are a poultry farmer in an affected region – or simply want to learn more – there are numerous great sources provided by independent organizations and regulatory bodies. Some notable resources are: