1. Worldwide, exotic Newcastle disease and avian influenza have caused major disease
outbreaks which have harmed the poultry industry. The National FFA Foundation has
prepared courseware and presentations that have been mapped to national learning standards to help agricultural educators and students obtain correct and relevant information on these diseases.
The courseware and presentations will prove beneficial to all those involved or looking for a
career in the poultry sector.
This is a special project of the National FFA Foundation, Inc. sponsored by the U.S.
Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).
Audio Script:

2. Welcome to the Avian Influenza & Exotic Newcastle Disease Course
Welcome to the Avian Influenza & Exotic Newcastle Disease Course. This course will introduce you to the biosecurity practices, the ways of detecting exotic Newcastle disease (END) and avian influenza (AI), and will outline ways of preventing their outbreak among your birds.
Biosecurity
Learn about the importance of biosecurity, the economic impact of a disease outbreak, and ways of preventing specific problems.
Diseases in Animal Agriculture
Read how infectious poultry diseases can spread in our global environment.
Detecting and Preventing Disease
Find out the causative agents, clinical signs and methods of preventing END and AI in animal agriculture.

3. Biosecurity: Introduction
If you deal directly or indirectly with poultry and livestock, you have the
potential to spread disease. You may transmit disease-causing
pathogens from farm to farm if you do not take appropriate biosecurity
precautions. Therefore, you should understand its importance.
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
Define biosecurity
Describe the importance of biosecurity
Discuss at least three economic consequences that could result from a disease outbreak
Identify the six steps to prevent biosecurity breakdowns
List at least three examples of how you can apply good biosecurity practices
Audio Script: You need to understand the importance of biosecurity as it can help you take the necessary precautions to avoid spreading disease among your poultry and livestock. A knowledge of biosecurity and its practices can help you keep your birds healthy.

4. What is Biosecurity?
Biosecurity is the key to keeping your poultry healthy.
Biosecurity is:
Informed common sense
A system aimed at protecting poultry flocks from all types of infectious agents - viral, bacterial, fungal or parasitic
Doing everything possible to protect your birds from infectious diseases like Exotic Newcastle Disease (END) and Avian Influenza (AI)
Preventing disease-causing germs or microbes from entering your premises
Audio Script: The term "biosecurity" may not be a common household word. But, for millions of poultry and livestock producers and owners, it may spell the difference between health and disease. Biosecurity means doing things to keep diseases out of your flock. Preventing disease-causing germs or microbes from entering your premises is key. Learning and using simple practices not only keeps your birds healthy, but can also increase your business profits. In the next few pages we will show you that biosecurity practices don't have to be expensive or complicated.

5. Why is Biosecurity Important?
Biosecurity measures decrease the risk for:
Outbreaks such as END and AI on poultry farms.
Loss of export markets, public concern and cancellation of poultry shows, auctions, fairs and exhibits.
Long expensive quarantines, resulting in severe financial losses.
Biosecurity can protect your birds:
Biosecurity measures are important for you as a farmer, for your neighbors, and for the U.S. poultry industry.
Practicing biosecurity can help keep disease away from your farm, and keep your birds healthy. Healthy birds produce better, and increase your profits.
Practicing biosecurity is important for your neighbors, so that you don't spread disease to their birds, and vice versa. And finally, practicing biosecurity is important to the U.S. poultry industry, so that exports aren't jeopardized, and the industry does not incur huge financial losses.
Audio Narration: Biosecurity practices can protect your birds. It is important to keep diseases away from your farm, and keep your birds healthy. After all, healthy birds produce better, and can increase your profits.
Biosecurity is important for your neighbors, so you don't spread illness from your birds to theirs or vice versa. And finally, biosecurity is important so that our country's poultry industry is not at risk.

6. Sources of Infection in an Outbreak
Humans
Proper biosecurity practices can prevent the spread of infection from:
Humans - hands, hair, clothing, footwear
Vehicles
Proper biosecurity practices can prevent the spread of infection from:
Contaminated vehicles and equipment
Animals
Domestic and wild animals
Carcasses
Improperly disposed carcasses
Flocks
One flock to another backyard flocks

7. Economic Impact of a Major Disease Outbreak
A major outbreak of HPAI or END would be costly to the poultry owners, consumers and
taxpayers.
During the outbreak of END in Southern California and other western states, over 3.2 million birds were euthanized, costing over $170 million to eradicate the disease, not to mention the personal loss of pets, which cannot be measured in dollars and cents.
An outbreak of HPAI occurred in in the Northeastern United States resulting in the destruction of more than 17 million birds at a cost of nearly $65 million in today's dollars. This outbreak also caused retail egg prices to increase by more than 30 percent.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) works to keep HPAI from becoming established in the U.S. poultry population. Once established, the disease can spread rapidly from flock to flock.
Audio Script: The main reason to practice biosecurity is to keep infectious diseases from reaching your birds and your farm.
Diseases such as HPAI and END can strike poultry quickly and without any infection warning signs. So, it is essential for you as an individual bird owner, as well as the U.S. poultry industry, to be alert to this disease threat.

8. Steps to Prevent Biosecurity
Infectious diseases such as Exotic Newcastle disease and Avian Influenza can be
prevented through following good biosecurity practices. There are six basic steps
for practicing backyard biosecurity.
Audio Scripts: An outbreak of a bird disease such as Exotic Newcastle Disease (END) or High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (HPAI) could not only harm or kill your birds but could also spread so quickly that it could kill other neighboring birds.
Vaccination is another tool to protect your birds against END. Your local agricultural extension office or feed stores that sell vaccines in your area can give you vital information on the proper vaccines for your birds. Vaccines for high pathogenicity avian influenza can only be used when authorized by USDA officials during an outbreak.
However, vaccinating your birds won't guarantee that they will never contract an infectious disease. So, never assume you can replace good biosecurity with vaccination.

9. Keep your distance
To keep your flock in the best of health, you need to isolate them from visitors and diseased birds. Here's how:
Restrict access to your property and your birds
Consider fencing off the area where your birds are. This will form a barrier between "clean" and "dirty" areas
Allow only people who take care of your birds to come into contact with them. If visitors to your property want to see your birds, be sure they wash up first and clean their shoes
Keep clean boots for visitors to wear. If your visitors have birds of their own, do not let them near your birds at all
Game birds and migratory waterfowl should not have contact with your flock because they can carry germs and diseases. If your birds are outdoors, try to keep them in a screened area

10. Keep it clean
You wouldn't think of tracking dirt and disease into your house, where it could infect
your family. Don't do that to your birds either! Germs can be picked up on shoes and
clothing and moved from one area to another. To keep your birds germ-free:
Keep a pair of shoes and a set of clothes to wear only when around your birds
Wash your hands with soap, water and a disinfectant before entering your bird area
Clean cages, feeders, and water on a daily basis
Clean and disinfect equipment that comes in contact with your birds or their droppings
Remove all manure before disinfecting; clean surfaces with soap and water first
Properly dispose of dead birds by burial or incineration or take them to a landfill. Check on local ordinances for acceptable disposal methods

11. Don't haul disease home
Your car and truck tires, poultry cages and equipment too could harbor germs.
To be careful and keep disease away from your premises, do the following:
If you travel to a location where other birds are present, or even to the feed store, be sure to clean and disinfect these items before you return to your premises
If you take some of your birds to a fair or exhibition, separate them from the rest of your flock and watch them for at least two weeks after the event to ensure that they are free of disease
Separate new birds from your flock for at least 30 days before putting them back with the rest of your birds. To prevent disease, it is best not to mix young and old birds or birds from different species or different sources. You should ensure that birds are tested for END and AI before you introduce them into your flock

12. Don't borrow disease
Don't borrow disease from your neighbor. Your birds' health is so important
that you should never by accident or design share anything pertaining to them.
For instance:
Do not share birds, lawn and garden equipment, tools or poultry supplies with your neighbors or other bird owners. If you do, clean and disinfect them before they reach your premises
Remember to clean and disinfect borrowed items before returning them
Never share items such as wooden pallets or cardboard egg cartons because they are porous and cannot be adequately cleaned and disinfected

13. Warning signs
Know the warning signs of infectious bird diseases. Early detection is important
to prevent the spread of disease. The list below includes some of the signs that
signal something might be wrong with your birds.
Sudden death
Diarrhea (greenish or watery)
Decreased or complete loss of egg production; soft-or thin-shelled misshapen eggs
Sneezing, gasping for air, nasal discharge, coughing
Lack of energy and appetite
Swelling of tissues around eyes and in neck
Purple discoloration of the wattles, combs, and legs (AI)
Depression, muscular tremors, drooping wings, twisting of head and neck, and a lack of coordination or complete paralysis (END)

14. Report sick birds
Early reporting is important to protecting the health of your birds! Report unusual signs of disease or unexpected deaths among your birds. Call your:
Agricultural extension agent,
Local veterinarian,
The state veterinarian, or state animal diagnostic laboratory, or
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Veterinary Services office.
The USDA operates a toll-free hotline ( ) with veterinarians to help you. The USDA wants to test sick birds to make sure they do not have a serious poultry disease. There is no charge for USDA veterinarians to work with you to conduct a disease investigation.

15. Good Biosecurity Practices
The three important components of biosecurity include: isolation, traffic control, and sanitation.
Audio Scripts: Biosecurity practices don't have to be cumbersome or expensive. Cleaning and disinfecting is one of the most important steps you can take in practicing backyard biosecurity. It will go a long way toward protecting your birds from disease. The three important components of biosecurity include isolation, traffic control, and sanitation.

16. Isolation
This means the confinement of birds within a controlled environment. Give
your birds the best environment.
Restrict access to your property and your birds
Consider fencing off the area where your birds are. This will form a barrier between "clean" and "dirty" areas
Allow only people who take care of your birds to come into contact with them. If visitors to your property want to see your birds, be sure they wash up first and clean their shoes
Keep clean boots for visitors to wear. If your visitors have birds of their own, do not let them near your birds at all
Your birds should not have contact with migratory waterfowl because they can carry germs and diseases. If your birds are outdoors, try to keep them in a screened area
If birds have been to fair or exhibition, they should be separated from rest of flock for at least two weeks after event, and new birds should be kept separate from your flock for at least 30 days

17. Traffic Control
This includes incoming traffic (people, vehicles and equipment) and
traffic patterns within the farm or hatchery. For your birds' health:
Implement traffic control and keep a log of visitors to avoid the spread of disease
Isolate your birds from people, other birds, and other germ carriers, such as wild birds and rodents. Be sure to have a rodent control program

18. Sanitation
You wouldn't think of tracking dirt and disease into your house, where it could
infect your family. Don't do that to your birds either! Germs can be picked up
on shoes and clothing and moved from one area to another. To keep your birds
"germ-free," keep a pair of shoes and a set of clothes to wear only around your
birds. Don't forget it's important to:
Maintain hygienic and clean bird enclosures, tools, and poultry equipment
Clean and disinfect them as regularly and completely as possible
Launder your clothes in a washer and dryer to kill germs
Use biosecurity measures after you return from a bird show or event
Scrub floor surfaces and follow up with a disinfectant
Keep your bird area clean and sanitary

19. Look, Report, Practice
Look for Signs:
Watch for signs of disease or unexpected deaths among your birds.
Report Sick Birds:
Don't wait! Early detection can make a difference. If your
birds are sick or dying call your:
Local extension agent or
State Veterinarian, or the USDA's Veterinary Services toll free at to
find out why
Bird owners can also call their state animal diagnostic laboratory to arrange for
testing of sick birds
Practice Backyard Biosecurity:
Keep your birds free from disease. Restrict traffic on your property, and disinfect shoes,
clothes and hands to prevent the possible spread of disease.
Audio narration: Remember these three basic and important steps, LOOK for signs; REPORT sick birds and PRACTICE backyard biosecurity These steps will go along way in protecting your birds from, every disease.

20. Summary
Good management and biosecurity practices are essential to keep birds
healthy. This includes following good biosecurity practices. You can
prevent contamination by taking all measures necessary to clean and
disinfect yourself and all items with which you had contact, before and
after handling birds. In this lesson, you've learned about:
Biosecurity
The importance of biosecurity
The economic impact factors that could result from non-compliance with biosecurity procedures
The six steps to prevent biosecurity issues
Examples of how you can apply good biosecurity practices
Audio narration: Good bird management and strict biosecurity precautions will protect your birds against most infectious diseases and keep them healthy. Preventing disease is easier than trying to manage disease.

21. Choose the correct answer
The six important steps of biosecurity are:
Don’t borrow disease from your neighbor
Keep your distance
Report sick birds
Allow visitors
Don’t haul disease home
Keep it clean
Share tools and poultry supplies
Know the warning signs of infectious bird diseases
Correct Answer: Don’t borrow disease from your neighbor, Keep your distance, Report sick birds
Don’t haul disease home, Keep it clean and Know the warning signs of infectious bird diseases

22. Choose the correct answer
Good biosecurity involves:
Isolation
Traffic Control
Sanitation
All of the above
Correct Answer: All of the above

23. Choose the correct answer
Which of the following could spread disease within a facility?
Dirty Shoes
Disinfecting a truck
Tires with dirt
Dirty fingernails
Correct Answer: Dirty shoes, tires with dirt and dirty fingernails