Texas bird flu deemed 'highly pathogenic'
Affects on trade could be 'tremendous'

By LORI COPE | East Texas Edition

Feb. 26, 2004 -- The U.S. Department announced on Feb. 23 that the avian flu in the flock of chickens in Gonzales County is of the "highly-pathogenic" strain, which initiated the department to activate their federal response system.

During a 10 a.m. press conference, Dr. Ron Dehaven, chief veterinary officer, said preliminary testing of the birds, announced eb. 20, showed the avian flu to be of the "low pathogenic" but further testing showed the H5 H7 strain, found in the birds, to be of a different level. The varied test results were available at 2 a.m. Monday, Feb. 23.

Dehaven noted the strain, H5 H7, can become highly-pathogenic even if it starts out low-pathogenic.

Because this strain is now classified as "high-path," there may be a threat to humans. "In unusual circumstances, this can be transmitted (to humans) ... Currently, there is no evidence of this in Texas," Dehaven said on Feb. 23.

The 6,600 broilers at the Gonzales farm, located about 50 miles east of San Antonio, were destroyed.

"The important action to prevent the spread of this avian flu has already been taken," Dehaven said, "and that's to depopulate the flock."

In the federal response system to the AI outbreak, birds within a 10 mile radius of the Gonzales County farm are being tested. The farm raises poultry for live markets in Houston. The farm is also under quarantine.

Dehaven explained the birds went to two live bird markets in Texas, and preliminary testing of those birds show some to be positive. One flock is being held, and the other depopulated, Dehaven said during the 10 a.m. press conference on Feb. 23.

Dr. Bob Hillman, Texas state veterinarian and TAHC executive director, specified the on-site investigation team has several regulatory veterinarians and about a dozen animal health inspectors from the TAHC and Texas' office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

In recent weeks, two other strains of low pathogenic AI have been detected in the United States; the H7N2 strain was found in two flocks in Delaware and four of the 35 live chicken markets in northern New Jersey. The low-pathogenic H2N2 strain was detected in a Pennsylvania flock. In Delaware, more than 226 farms have been tested, with no additional infection detected.

"Whenever AI is detected, we take action, in order to stop the spread of disease, ensure the health of other flocks, and protect our ability to trade poultry products with other countries without any added flock health restrictions," Hillman added about the situation in Texas.

The disease is spread from bird-to-bird, and can be spread from farm-to-farm, therefore good biosecurity practices are encouraged by all Texas poultry owners. Dehaven pointed out AI is often transmitted by migratory water fowl.

James Grimm, executive vice president of the Texas Poultry Federation, a trade group based in Round Rock, said he has been following the case since the poultry farmer sent tissue samples to the state lab on Feb. 17 for testing. Grimm also noted ducks, which are sold at the live markets, commonly have avian flu.

On Feb. 20, Texas Agriculture Commissioner said the single case of bird flu in Gonzales County could have tremendous trade implications.

"The poultry industry adds more than $1 billion to the Texas agricultural economy with exports totaling $123 million in 2002," said Commissioners Susan Combs.