CA Response Plan to Bird Flu

[Guest guest]

Here is the CA Dept of Ag Bird Flu site:

 

http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/exec/pa/BirdFlu/

 

Here are some minutes that mention how they plan to handle a bird

flu outbreak (PDF):

 

http://tinyurl.com/mnmgh

 

For a different viewpoint, HSUS disputes the practice of mass-

slaughter of birds (which is what they plan to do again to battle

bird flu).

California, Nevada and Arizona Use Questionable Tactics to Battle

Newcastle Disease

http://tinyurl.com/lj9qp

 

In Germany and other parts of Europe, people have dumped many dogs

and cats at animal control because they're afraid of bird flu. You

can construct outdoor runs that keep dogs and cats, as well as

poultry, safe. Here's info biosecurity and example enclosures (from

a bird perspective):

http://chicken.meetup.com/3/boards/view/viewthread?thread=1477220

 

 

If you look at the minutes mentioned above, basically, the CA Dept

of Food and Ag will control the outbreak in birds. They practice a

policy of pinpointing outbreaks and killing all the birds in the

area. (The Dept of Health will handle human concerns.) They killed 3

million birds during the exotic Newcastle's outbreak in Southern CA.

You need to implement biosecurity to give domestic birds a chance

and hope that they find it early. (We don't have surveillance in

many areas, such as Santa Cruz County, apparently.) So, spread the

word!

 

It can come into the area as follows:

 

" Spread is now both by wild waterfowl, human movement of birds and

contaminated materials. "

 

Some more interesting points:

 

" Has developed the ability to jump between species – wild waterfowl

to poultry and back, more avian species affected than normal with

unprecedented lethality; also felines, others. "

 

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" It is very likely that this virus will soon reach California.

- Migrating waterfowl.

- Smuggled poultry or birds.

- Accidental introduction from contaminated products – foreign

visitors.

 

Many credible sources are now predicting that the virus may reach

the U.S. this fall

or possibly next spring.

-WHO, OIE, Sec. Chertoff from DHS.

-CDFA and UCD avian experts.

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" Even the best system of biosecurity is not perfect, for this reason

we are testing birds so that we can act quickly to eliminate high

path AI from domestic flocks. "

 

" Once discovered, action must be swift and constant. The military

concept of " overwhelming forces " should be applied. Those impacted

cannot afford debate over strategy and funding. Delayed action will

have severe consequences due to the often-unseen spread of the

disease. "

 

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Because more than one agency will likely be involved, primarily due

to human health and carcass disposal concerns, CDFA will respond

using the Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS) that will

include unified command.

-CDFA will lead the response to the avian disease in unified

command with USDA and the lead federal agency.

-OES will direct and coordinate other state resources that will be

used to support the response.

-The California Department of Health Services will lead the

response addressing human health issues, and depending on the

circumstances of the outbreak, will be a part of the unified command

or otherwise be integrated using SEMS standards.

-(DHS is lead when the event is primarily a human health

emergency.)

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