Mojtaba Yegani, Gary D Butcher
The human role in
disease outbreaks
Thoroughly
addressing routes of
transmission from
humans to birds does
Mojtaba Yegani
emphasises
that biosecurity
measures must
be applied to
everyone entering
a farm.
✷ Keep a log book to document
anyone entering the premises.
Recommendations for
preventing human to
poultry disease
transmission
not have to be difficult
and can go a long way
✷ Ensure that visitors have
not been in contact with
any other farm for at least a
few days prior to entering.
preventing poultry
disease outbreaks.
✷ All those entering the
premises should follow
biosecurity protocols.
The commercial poultry industry
has grown considerably in most
areas of the world over the past 20
years. With a concurrent increase in
the size and complexity of broiler,
layer, turkey and breeder operations,
managers have been forced to focus
more e;ort on disease prevention.
Humans are usually considered
the primary route of spread of
diseases on to poultry farms. The
carrying out of duties by employees,
managers or veterinarians, and a lack
of knowledge, are among the factors
that can result in humans spreading
disease.
It is said that in more than 90%
of breaks in biosecurity, people are
the cause of disease transmission on
poultry farms. In other words, more
than 90% of breaks in biosecurity are
the result of human activity. Thus,
if attention is focused
on controlling the
movement of people,
the result may be a
significant reduction of
disease problems.
✷ Visit younger flocks first and
then older flocks. However,
should there be disease
problems in younger flocks,
these flocks should be
visited last and a complete
decontamination conducted
prior to further farm visits.
Greater world trade and travel
makes disease spread easier.
✷ Do not bring unnecessary
materials or equipment into
farms. All necessary equipment
should be sanitised.
The risk of disease outbreaks
continues to be a major concern
to the poultry industry, and any
doubters need only look back to
the recent avian influenza crisis
to see the e;ects of a disease on
profitability. The movement of
people, notably employees and
visitors, birds and also eggs and
feed between poultry farms clearly
indicates that the potential for
spread of diseases is significant.
Visitors and disease spread
The expansion in world trade
and travel has made the spread of
disease even easier. A person can visit
several farms, possibly infected ones,
in various parts of a country in less
than a day and be in another country
the next. Most disease organisms
have the ability to remain active
during this period, and so it is highly
important that farm visitors be aware
of this issue.
✷ Continuously educate farm
employees about disease
prevention and control.
✷ Farm personnel should not
keep backyard poultry or
pet birds at their homes.
✷ Farm employees
must not visit
neighbouring farms.
Prevention
iskey
