"Bird flu continues to be a concern in parts of Asia and Europe, and even though we haven't seen signs of the disease in the U.S., we need to make sure Illinois is in the best possible position to detect the disease early," said Blagojevich.
In an effort to enhance the capacity to detect highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the United States, the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) will participate in a joint effort to increase surveillance in Illinois for avian flu. The program allows for IDOA to provide autopsies of game birds and appropriate testing for avian flu. Flock owners who elect to be a part of the program may submit up to 10 birds per flock every 6 months for necropsy to the Animal Disease Laboratory in Centralia or Galesburg or the University of Illinois-College of Veterinary Medicine's Diagnostic Laboratory at no charge to the owners.
This agreement will also cover the cost of having a licensed veterinarian travel to the farm, drawing blood samples, submitting the sample and testing the samples at the Animal Disease Laboratory Galesburg for 30 birds per flock every 6 months.
The IDOA will provide reimbursement funding for these and other low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) and HPAI surveillance activities with the poultry industry throughout Illinois through a cooperative agreement with the USDA.
"While the Asian strain of high path avian influenza has never been identified in the United States, we want to assist these breeders in monitoring and testing for the disease, which will better our chances of catching the problem early and eliminating it, should it ever become necessary," said IDOA Director Chuck Hartke.
"This expansion to include captive game birds allows breeders to voluntarily have their flocks tested at no additional cost to them, providing the state with greater detection ability for avian flu and providing the breeder with greater assurance of the health of their flock," said IDNR Acting Director Sam Flood. "Testing last fall of hunter-harvested waterfowl was very successful, and we'll continue with those efforts this spring."
Currently, HP Asian H5N1, which has caused mortality in domestic poultry, wild birds, and humans on other continents, has not been detected in North America. While the role of wild birds in transporting HP Asian H5N1 is not clear, this surveillance effort will help to ensure early detection of the disease should it arrive in North America.
