The avian influenza virus strain H5N1 continues to devastate farmers across the United States. According to Dr. Ashley Mason, an accomplished turkey veterinarian at Gaydos Technical Services, a company providing veterinary and technical support to the poultry industry, biosecurity is the essential foundation of the national disease control program. 

In this article, Dr. Mason shares invaluable insights on addressing the H5N1 disease challenges in the context of limited medical treatment and prevention tools by adopting robust biosecurity practices and choosing the correct equipment and products. 

Blog written by Dr. Ashley Mason, Gaydos Technical Services

Biosecurity & Disease Transmission  

“Biosecurity must be practiced daily, not just occasionally. Much like brushing your teeth, it needs to become part of your routine," said Dr. Mason. 

According to Dr. Mason, the first thing to consider when establishing the biosecurity measures on your farm is how the diseases are transmitted to flocks. For poultry, these include: 

• Airborne or aerosol transmission with pathogen particles suspended in the air
• Virus-carrying surfaces of shoes, clothes, equipment, phones, etc.
• Poultry, both commercial & backyard
• Migratory wild birds
• Insects
• Rodents
• Cats and dogs
• Livestock 

“Once we understand the various methods of disease transmission, we can incorporate biosecurity measures into our daily routines," said Dr. Mason.

Key Stages of Biosecurity Measures

1. Farm Entrance 

"The farm entrance is the first line of defense on the farm. Ensure there are gates and signage so people know to stay out of the farm unless authorized," said Dr. Mason. Consider adding a Biosecurity Stop Sign to your barn’s entrance for extra visibility for your biosecurity efforts.  

 
2. Perimeter Buffer Area 

According to Dr. Mason, the next biosecurity level to consider is the perimeter buffer area around the barns. This includes vehicle disinfection, regular site cleaning and maintenance, wildlife and rodent control, and livestock management. Your buffer area biosecurity routine should feature rules such as:  

• Disinfect the tires of all vehicles entering the farm
• Remove trash regularly 
• Clean up feed spills 
• Dispose of dead birds immediately
• Quarantine sick and new birds
• Plug holes larger than 1/4" & seal foundation cracks
• Mow grass and trim brushes around buildings
• Keep bait stations out & around barns 
• Keep livestock fenced away from poultry barns

When it comes to rodent control, Liphatech and Motomco are two trusted bait station manufacturers delivering consistent quality in various placement scenarios. Some of their products to consider are:  

• Liphatech Locking Aegis RP Bait Station
• Liphatech Aegis Mouse Bait Stations
• Motomco Tamper-Resistant Rat Bait Station 
• Motomco Tamper-Resistant Low-Profile Rat Station 
• Motomco Titan Weighted Bait Station

As for the rat and mouse bait, the same two manufacturers offer a wide selection of proven solutions featuring:  

• Motomco Hawk All-Weather Rodent Bait Chunx Bucket, 18 lbs
• Motomco Hawk Meal Bait, 25 lbs
• Motomco Jaguar All-Weather Rat Bait Chunx Bucket, 18 lbs
• Motomco Rampage All-Weather Rat Bait Chunx Bucket, 9 lbs 
• Liphatech Renegade Meal Bait, 25 lbs
• Liphatech Hombre Rodenticide Mini Blocks Bait Bucket, 20 lbs
• Liphatech BootHill Rat & Mouse Mini Blocks Bait, 20 lbs
• Liphatech FastDraw Rodenticide Soft Bait Place Packs Bucket, 16 lbs
• Liphatech Cannon Soft Bait, 4 lbs

For disinfecting various surfaces, look for products specifically formulated for poultry barns, as they are the most effective in shielding against avian pathogens such as H5N1. Two disinfectant manufacturers to consider are Synergize and Virkon. 
 
3. Poultry Barn Entry Protocols 

"Our last line of defense is what we do when we enter the poultry barns," said Dr. Mason.

According to Dr. Mason, wild birds shed pathogens into their feces, and a very small gram-sized amount of fecal material can infect an entire poultry barn. It is crucial to remember this when considering what you bring into a poultry house. 

Any equipment, clothes, shoes, pens, or phones must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before entering the poultry house. Wear new or clean PPE: coveralls, hairnets, gloves, and boots when entering the barns with birds. Consider using Five Rock Standard or Heavy Weight Disposable Coveralls, DuPont Tyvek Protective Apparel - Coveralls, or Suntech Microporous Disposable Coveralls.  

Boots especially need to be a focus as we walk outside and do not know what we are potentially tracking into the barns. Products like Flatfoot Disposable Boot Covers and SafeTrack-HD High Traction Boot Covers will help you minimize the risks of exposing your birds to external infections.  

Continuous Biosecurity Improvement With QC Supply 
 
Unfortunately, even with all of the above practices in place, there is still a risk of disease. "It is important to immediately report any instance of elevated sickness or mortality in flocks so proper testing of HPAI or other diseases can be done, reducing the spread of the disease to other flocks,” said Dr. Mason. 
 
Continuous improvement and regular training are essential to adapting to new threats and maintaining high biosecurity standards. As well as a sufficient stock of the necessary tools, equipment, and solutions. Browse our complete selection of PPE and biosecurity products here.  

Did we miss any key information? Drop a comment below! Still have questions? Give our experts a call today at 888-433-5275.