Hong Kong Avian Influenza Update The following article was writ ten largely from an article prepared by Dr. Charles W. Beard with the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association in ml tion in Hi The death of a child in Hong Kong in May 1997 from an avian influenza virus (HSNI) was the beginning of what has become a series of highly publicized an nouncements and events. Since that first death, there have been 16 confirmed cases and five suspected cases of this HSNI avian influ enza infection in people with at least four deaths. At the same time, chickens in Hong Kong were experiencing high death losses to a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HSNI). Concern of public health experts Public health experts are con cerned that this H 5 influenza virus may be the cause of the next worldwide epidemic (pandemic) of human influenza. The two previ ous introductions of new “H” se rotypes into humans occurred in that part of the world. The “Asian NEED YOUR FARM BUILDINGS PAINTED? Let us give you a price! Write: Daniel’s Painting 637-A Georgetown Rd. Ronks, PA 17572 (or leave message) (717) 687-8262 Spray on and Brush in Painting B 2* H $ 25 Power in Numbers 25 S 25 4 SPectAL Update $ The American Raw Milk Producers 2| 2 s Pricing Association 2l 23 23 Meeting to be held at: 2* Monterey Shop, 5? 339 Monterey Rd. Bird-In-Hand, PA '« Wednesday, February 11,1998, 7:30 PM 23 23 25 23 to For more information call (610) 593-2242 (410) 658-6942 (410) 658-4383 or contact Dan Stoltzfus 717-768-0177 PUASe 00*/T M/SS THIS SPCC/AL M£(T/UG. flu” was caused by an H 2 virus and began in 1957. In 1968, an H 3 virus began the “Hong Kong flu’.’ epidemic and variations of that H 3 virus have been the major cause of human influenza since that time. When a different “H” subtype emerges as the cause of human influenza, severe disease and death losses can occur because no one has residual immunity to the new “H” (H 5 in this case) from vaccination or past infec tions. Additionally, the high death rate of HSNI has forced concern over the potential impact of a pandemic caused by this virus. Reports have indicated that at least some of the infected humans had been in contact with sick poultry afflicted with avian influ enza. Both the human and chicken HSNI viruses have been shown to cause severe illness and near 100% mortality in experimentally ex posed chickens (work done at the USDA Southeast Poultry Re search Laboratory in Athens, Georgia). Korn ARMPPA If the Hong Kong HSNI initi ates a worldwide pandemic in hu mans, there is the real possibility that infected and virus-shedding poultry caretakers will infect their poultry flocks. At least one hu man isolate has experimentally been shown to be highly lethal for chickens. Based on the experiences in Hong Kong with chickens and laboratory results, the virus would likely have a more devastating ef fect on commercial poultry flocks. Biosecurity measures would be of very little benefit because infected caretakers would be a probably mechanism of HSNI virus intro duction into the flocks. Biosecu rity could, however, reduce the secondary spread from the flocks initially infected. If the worse case scenario hap pens and a human pandemic re sults, the poultry of the world (turkeys, layers and broilers) will be in grave danger. This includes the genetic stock and breeders. If the poultry industry were to lose the majority of its genetic pool it would have a lasting effect with probable negative effects on the world’s food supply. For the reasons cited above, since biosecurity cannot be totally relied upon to protect these valu able flocks, the only recourse will be vaccines. If the flocks have been immunized against fowlpox, the fowlpox vector vaccines will likely be of no value. That leaves inactivated vaccine prepared either SMOKER, LANDIS & COMPANY CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS and BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANTS ✓ Individual, Partnership & Corporate Taxes ✓ Accounting & Bookkeeping ✓ Business, Personal & Estate Tax Planning ✓ Management Advisory Services ✓ Personal Financial Planning ✓ Computer Services ✓ Payroll Preparation ✓ Retirement Plans 49 East Main Street 24 South Main Street Leola Manheim (717) 656-7544 (717) 665-5979 or (717) 392-1333 or (717) 393-1929 vaccine SftV .!£ 'mural