INFLUENZA

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are ill.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
• Wash your hands often with soap and hot water.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
• Get enough sleep, engage in regular physical activity, manage stress, drink plenty of water and eating healthy foods.

INFLUENZA-AVIAN

USDA Release No. 0458.05 November 2005
Contact: USDA Press Office (202) 720-4623

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS: AVIAN INFLUENZA

Q. What is avian influenza?

A. Avian influenza (AI) is a disease found among poultry. Each year, there is a flu season for birds just as there is for humans.

There are two main classes. Most AI strains are classified as low pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI) and cause few clinical signs in infected birds. High pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) causes a severe and extremely contagious illness and death among infected birds.

Q. Besides HPAI and LPAI, is avian influenza divided into other groupings?

A. Yes, there are 144 different characterizations of the virus based on two groups of proteins found on the surface of the virus. One group is the hemagglutinin proteins (H), of which there are 16 different types (H1-H16); the other group is the neuraminidase proteins (N), of which there are 9 different types (N1-N9). The virus detected in several Asian and European countries is an H5N1 type of highly pathogenic (HPAI) virus.

Q. How is the disease spread?

A. AI is primarily spread by direct contact between healthy birds and infected birds, and through indirect contact with contaminated equipment and materials. The virus is excreted through the feces of infected birds and through secretions from the nose, mouth and eyes. AI can also can be found on the outer surfaces of egg shells.

HPAI can be spread from birds to people as a result of extensive direct contact with infected birds. Broad concerns about public health relate to the potential for the virus to mutate, or change into a form that could spread from person to person. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is aggressively working to ensure public health is protected. More information about the joint efforts of the federal government is available at http://www.pandemicflu.gov/

Q. What symptoms do birds with AI demonstrate?

A. LPAI symptoms are typically mild. Decreased food consumption, respiratory signs (coughing and sneezing) and a decrease in egg production. Birds that are affected with HPAI have a greater level of sickness and could exhibit one or more of the following clinical signs: sudden death; lack of energy and appetite; decreased egg production; soft-shelled or misshapen eggs; swelling; purple discoloration; nasal discharge; coughing, sneezing; lack of coordination and diarrhea.

Q. What should producers do if their birds appear to have signs of AI?

A. If birds exhibit clinical signs of HPAI or might have been exposed to birds with the disease, producers or bird owners should immediately notify Federal or State animal health officials.

Q. Is it possible for an LPAI strain to become highly pathogenic?

A. Some low pathogenic subtypes have the capacity to mutate into more virulent strains. While LPAI is considered lower risk, low pathogenic strains of the virus - the H5 and H7 strains - can mutate to highly pathogenic forms.

Q. Is AI a reportable disease?

A. HPAI is considered a reportable disease by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). OIE has developed animal health standards that classify all H5 and H7 viruses as reportable diseases.

Q. Does AI threaten human health?

A. LPAI poses no known serious threat to human health, however some strains of HPAI viruses can be infectious to people. Since December 2003, a growing number of Asian countries have reported outbreaks of HPAI in chickens and ducks. Humans also have been affected, most of who had direct contact with infected birds. The rapid spread of HPAI in 2004 and 2005 is historically unprecedented and of growing concern for human health as well as for animal health.

Q. Does HPAI currently exist in the United States? Has it ever occurred in this country?

A. Incidents of LPAI are commonly detected in domestic poultry flocks. LPAI does not pose a serious threat to human health.

There is no evidence that HPAI currently exists in the United States. Historically, there have been three HPAI outbreaks in poultry in this country-in 1924, 1983 and 2004. No significant human illness resulted from these outbreaks.

The 1924 H7 HPAI outbreak was detected in and contained to East Coast live bird markets.

The 1983-84 H5N2 HPAI bird outbreak resulted in the destruction of approximately 17 million chickens, turkeys, and guinea fowl in the northeastern United States to contain and eradicate the disease.

In 2004, USDA confirmed an H5N2 HPAI outbreak in chickens in the southern United States. The disease was quickly eradicated thanks to close coordination and cooperation between USDA, state, local, and industry leaders. Because of the quick response, the disease was limited to one flock.

Q. What kind of test is used to diagnose avian influenza in birds?

A: Samples are usually taken by swabbing the mucus that coats the throat of live birds, which does not harm the birds. With wild birds, a fecal sample can be taken instead. These samples go into sealed tubes and are taken to USDA-approved laboratories typically producing results within 3 hours.

Q. What is USDA doing to prevent the introduction of HPAI into the United States?

A: USDA recognizes that HPAI poses a significant threat to animal health and has the potential to threaten human health. USDA maintains trade restrictions on the importation of poultry and poultry products from countries currently affected by H5N1 HPAI.

Detection USDA also works closely with international organizations like the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and World Health Organization (WHO) to assist HPAI-affected countries and other neighboring Asian-Pacific countries with disease prevention, management, and eradication activities.

Q. What is USDA doing to monitor the U.S. for AI among birds?

A: The USDA works with federal, state, and industry leaders to monitor and respond to outbreaks of LPAI. APHIS has provided funding and support personnel to states when LPAI has been detected. When HPAI is detected, APHIS personnel are primary responders, due to its infectivity and high mortality rate among poultry. Close attention is also given to two subtypes of LPAI, the H5 and H7 strains, because of the potential for them to mutate into HPAI. The AI strain infecting both birds and humans in Asia is the HPAI H5N1. There is presently no evidence of HPAI H5N1 existing in the U.S. - neither in animals nor humans.

In addition to international import restrictions, APHIS and State veterinarians are specially trained to diagnose foreign animal diseases regularly conduct field investigations of suspicious disease conditions. This surveillance is assisted by university personnel, State animal health officials, USDA-accredited veterinarians, and members of the industry who report suspicious cases. APHIS and State animal health officials work cooperatively with the poultry industry to conduct surveillance at breeding flocks, slaughter plants, live-bird markets, livestock auctions, and poultry dealers.

Q. What can poultry producers do to prevent an AI outbreak on their farms?

A. Poultry producers should strengthen biosecurity practices to prevent the introduction of AI into their flocks. The following are some sound biosecurity practices:

• Keep an "all-in, all-out" philosophy of flock management. Avoid skimming flocks. Process each lot of birds separately, and clean and disinfect poultry houses between flocks.
• Protect poultry flocks from coming into contact with wild or migratory birds. Keep poultry away from any source of water that could have been contaminated by wild birds.
• Permit only essential workers and vehicles to enter the farm.
• Provide clean clothing and disinfection facilities for employees.
• Thoroughly clean and disinfect equipment and vehicles (including tires and undercarriage) entering and leaving the farm.
• Do not loan to, or borrow equipment or vehicles from, other farms.
• Change footwear and clothing before working with your own flock after visiting another farm or live-brid market.
• Avoid visiting another bird farm if possible.
• Do not bring birds from slaughter channels, especially those from live-bird markets, back to the farm.

If AI is detected, farms must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. AI is deactivated by heat and drying and it is also very sensitive to most disinfectants and detergents.

Q. Does proper food handling prevent avian influenza?

A. The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is working to educate the public about safe food handling practices in response to numerous questions from the public about the human risk associated with avian influenza. There is no evidence that LPAI can be transmitted to people by eating poultry. If HPAI were detected in the U.S., the chance of infected poultry entering the food chain would be extremely low.

Proper handling and cooking of poultry provides protection against this virus, as it does against many viruses and bacteria, including Salmonella and E.coli. Safe food handling and preparation is important at all times. USDA continually reminds consumers to practice safe food handling and preparation every day:

• Wash hands before and after handling food.
• Prevent cross-contamination by keeping raw meat, poultry, fish, and their juices away from other foods.
• After cutting raw meats, wash hands, cutting board, knife, and counter tops with hot, soapy water.
• Sanitize cutting boards by using a solution of 1 teaspoon chlorine bleach in 1 quart of water.
• Use a food thermometer to ensure food has reached the proper temperature. Cook whole birds to 180 °F; breasts to 170 °F; drumsticks, thighs and wings to 180 °F; and a minimum oven temperature of 325 °F.

Poultry products imported to the U.S. must meet all safety standards applied to foods produced in the U.S. No poultry from countries with confirmed cases of H5N1 HPAI can be imported into the United States.

Q. How do I get more information about avian influenza?

go to http://www.usda.gov/birdflu

food safety information:

USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline
1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854)
TTY: 1-800 256-7072

For more information about pandemic flu and human influenza, go to:

• PA Pandemic Preparedness
• The U.S.Governments Pandemic & Avian Flu Website
• The Center for Disease Control & Prevention web site
• The World Health Organizations web site

For more information on Avian Influenza & H5N1 in wild birds, go to:

• Interagency National H5N1 Surveillance Plan
• U.S. Department of the Interiors Avian Influenza web site
• USGS National Wildlife Health Centers Avian Influenza web site
• USGS Alaska Science Center
• Wildlife Disease Information Node
• Alaska Pandemic Flu web page
• Southeast Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study

For more information on Avian Influenza in domestic animals, go to:

• U.S. Department of Agriculture Avian Influenza web site

For more safety information on Avian Influenza, go to:

• Alaska Hunter Fact Sheet
• USGS Wildlife Health Bulletin
• World Health Organization Safe Food Preparation Guide

Return to Top

LYME DISEASE

If you lead an active outdoor lifestyle, work outdoors, go hunting or fishing, please remember that Lyme Disease is still very much a concern. Warm weather signals a resurgence of nature's activity. Let the presence of insects serve as a reminder that ticks, such as the deer tick, have become active too. Peak exposure to ticks that carry the disease occurs in the spring with a second peak occurring in the fall.

The life cycle of the deer tick is two years. The female deer tick lays her eggs following the second year of her life cycle then dies. Those eggs hatch into larvae in spring, but only feed on smaller animals, particularly the white-footed mouse. The second year they emerge as miniature ticks called Nymphs. These start out life about the size of a poppy seed and molt several times before reaching the adult stage. The nymphs pose the greatest problem to humans, as they are difficult to spot. We can often detect them through our sense of touch. Try it with a poppy seed!

The important thing is that you check yourself for ticks each day. They will become larger as they engorge with blood. In this area, 80% of all people who contract Lyme Disease will become ill between May and August.

There are four steps you can take to minimize the effects of Lyme Disease.

• Awareness that Lyme Disease is a problem in this area. Become familiar with the cause, symptoms, prevention and treatment for Lyme Disease. Education is the best defense.
• Detection of the tick, of symptoms compatible with Lyme Disease or of chronic infection through blood tests that measure the antibody.
• Prevention by taking measures to minimize contact with the tick. Check to see whether the new Lyme Disease vaccine is right for you. The vaccine is not 100% effective and has certain side effects. Ongoing information on vaccines and reported effects can also be found at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention Website - www.cdc.gov or at the Website for the Lyme Disease Foundation - www.lyme.org
• Treatment in the early stages of illness before complications occur.

Take the following precautions to reduce your chances of contracting Lyme Disease:

• Wear light-colored clothing so that ticks can be spotted more easily.
• Keep pant legs and shirts tucked in.
• Wear a hat for extra protection.
• Apply an insect repellent containing the ingredient DEET or permethrin on clothing. Do not apply to your face.
• Walk in the center of trails to avoid overhanging grass and brush.
• Inspect yourself thoroughly for ticks. Remove attached ticks with tweezers being careful not to crush the tick's body.
• Don't forget to brush and check your pet as well.
• See a doctor immediately if an expanding rash occurs at the site of the tick bite, or if you experience flu-like symptoms within one month of the bite.

For further information visit www.cdc.gov

Return to Top

RABIES

Since February 13, 1887, Pennsylvanians who own or keep dogs and household cats over three months of age must have them vaccinated against rabies. People who violate the law can be fined up to $300.

Link to 2008 Rabies Clinics

How can I protect my family from rabies?

Most people are exposed to rabies through pets that have a fight with a wild animal and become infected. Unvaccinated dogs and cats must be quarantined at an animal hospital for six months. Unvaccinated pets may be permitted to be quarantined at home under certain conditions. In those cases when home quarantine is not granted and when quarantine at a vet hospital is unaffordable, the pet has to be euthanized and the brain tissue tested. Vaccination of pets is therefore your first line of defense. The following steps must be taken:

• All dogs and cats over the age of three (3) months must be vaccinated against rabies and wear an approved vaccination tag. Pet ferrets must also be vaccinated.
• All dogs over the age of three (3) months must be licensed. The cost is minimal and payable to the County's Treasurer's Office. If you have any questions, call (610) 278-3070.
• Dogs are prohibited from running at large at all times.
• All animal bites must be reported to the Upper Dublin Township Police. Pets inflicting a wound are subject to quarantine and examination by a Veterinarian. Call the Police Department immediately if you are bitten or injured by a wild animal. High risk animals are raccoons, foxes, skunks and bats. Low risk animals are rabbits and rodents such as squirrels, mice and rats. Consult your physician immediately following any wound inflicted by an animal.
• Bats pose a special risk in that most persons contacting bat rabies had no history of a bite or wound. Only a small percentage of bats (1%) harbor the rabies virus. A positive rabies exposure is now considered to occur if a bat is found in the house and had access to an area where people were sleeping or to a person who could not properly communicate exposure such as a young child or the disabled. Such person should receive rabies prophylaxis immediately.
• Don't feed stray cats or handle animals with which you are unfamiliar. If you feed stray cats, you become the assumed owner and as the assumed owner you are required by law to have that animal vaccinated against rabies and the vaccination kept current.
• Abandoned animals and unwanted pets should be turned over to the care of a local humane society.

A brochure "About Rabies" provides information to help citizens comply with the Rabies Law that was passed to prevent the spread of a disease that is fatal to animals and humans. This brochure is available at the Township Building.

Return to Top

SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome)

For consumer health information, go to www.cdc.gov

SMALLPOX

Go to www.cdc.gov or the call the CDC Hotline with questions (888-246-2675).

WEST NILE ENCEPHALITIS VIRUS

First case reported in Montgomery County, July 22, 2008. Download the press release from the County Health Department.

The return of the mosquito-borne West Nile Virus is expected during warm weather. Recommendations to help prevent mosquito breeding are:

• Clean gutters and downspouts
• Remove items from your yard collect water
• Check for poor drainage areas; re-landscape and plant water-loving plants to reduce breeding sites
• Empty birdbaths and kiddie pools weekly
• Dump standing water out of flowerpots
• Dispose of old tires, cans, pots and other water-holding containers
• Clean and chlorinate swimming pools and cover when not in use; drain the cover once a week
• Aerate ornamental pools or stock with fish
• Check for standing water after every rain
• Repair leaky pipes and outside faucets
• Keep grass cut and bushes trimmed

For additional information, visit the PA West Nile Encephalitis Surveillance program and West Nile Virus website at www.westnile.state.pa.us.

To reduce your exposure to mosquitoes:

• Make sure screens are in good repair
• Avoid outdoor activity in early morning, dusk and after rain; avoid damp grassy areas
• Keep grass and shrubs trimmed
• Cover arms, legs and feet. Wear long sleeves, long pants, (tucked into socks), closed shoes (no sandals).
• Use a light repellent with DEET (no more than 30%). Carefully read all warnings. Do not use on small children or infants.

Return to Top