A virus can be transmitted directly from bird to bird through secretions and feces, and indirectly through human movement, contaminated feed, water and equipment.

In light of the threat and risks associated with AI, increased attention has been drawn to the ongoing need to protect domestic poultry through the effective use of on-farm biosecurity measures. Livestock Farm Biosecurity involves maintaining good hygiene practices and limiting exposure to external sources of contamination.

The 5 Farm Biosecurity Basics for Bird Owners

Restrict visitor access. People can bring diseases onto your farm, especially if they own or have been in contact with other birds. It is a good idea to have separate clothing and footwear for use when dealing with your birds.
Prevent contact with wild birds and other animals. Keep your birds in an enclosed or screened in area, and protect their food and water from contamination.
Don't bring disease home. New additions or birds that have been at a fair or market should be isolated and observed for signs of disease for at least two weeks before joining the flock. Equipment such as cages should not be shared with other bird owners. Any shared equipment should be thoroughly washed and disinfected by ViralFX™

Keep it clean. – Use ViralFX™ (1:100 dilution rate) for routine disinfection and wash cages, feed and water surfaces, boots and any equipment that comes in contact with the birds or their droppings. Wash your hands thoroughly after dealing with the birds.
Recognize and report illness. Early detection is critical in successfully dealing with a disease outbreak. It is better to be overcautious than too late. If your birds show signs of disease, such as depression, abnormal egg production or feed consumption, respiratory problems, diarrhoea, or sudden death, call your local veterinarian or contact the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) immediately.

How can poultry production units and farms in an area where various disease causing organism has been identified reduce the risk of contracting the disease?

Put a continuous livestock farm biosecurity programme into place to prevent various disease causing organism from entering the farms environment:

Preventative Farm Biosecurity

When considering an effective continuous biosecurity programme, it is essential to bear in mind that the disease causing organism can survive for considerable lengths of time outside of the host and birds can be infected through a number of vectors:

1. Contact with other birds
2. Contact with mechanical vectors such as vehicles & equipment
3. Contact with personnel
4. Establish a secure Farm Biosecurity perimeter to ensure that the site is limited to one combined entrance and exit, providing a means of contact between the site entrance and the farm house/office e.g. a direct phone line, bell or whistle for essential callers
5. Minimize the number of visitors and where possible provide farm only boots and overalls.
6. Put a shower-in policy into place and provide hand-washing facilities.
7. Provide foot and wheel dip baths filled with an approved disinfectant and ensure that the disinfectant is changed on a daily basis.
8. Ensure that all vehicles have been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected prior to arrival at site.
9. Only allow essential vehicles to enter with all others (staff, delivery & service vehicles etc.) being kept outside the Biosecurity perimeter.
10. Disinfect Loading Bays, Paths and Roadways with an approved disinfectant.

Risk Rating

All Visits - Low, Medium Or High

• Make sure your vehicle is clean inside and out at all times - except of course for that visit's accumulation
• Wear clean clothing and clean washable or disposable footwear
• Maintain a detailed log of all livestock farm visits
• Park vehicle in a clean dry area, preferably on a hard surface with no obvious manure. Avoid exhaust fans from livestock areas. Close all windows to prevent insects from entering the car
• Follow the farm's biosecurity plan if they have one
• Wash soiled hands and footwear before leaving - if disposable footwear leave on farm (best) or take back in garbage receptacle
• If taking people from another country or province on to a Manitoba livestock operation, ensure they have not been in contact with livestock for 72 hours before hand

Low Or Medium Risk

• Wear clean coveralls, or other protective outer wear, and clean washable foot wear at each farm visited. Rubber boots or rubber overshoes are preferred.
• If the farm provides boots and protective outer wear, use it. In this situation, it would be recommended to cover shoes/boots with 1 pair of plastic over boots when walking from your vehicle to the farm door
• If plastic over boots are to be worn through out the farm, make sure that 2 pair are put on. This decreases the risk of tearing or punctures
• Clean and disinfect your shoes/boots thoroughly when you arrive and when you leave a farm - cleaning when you arrive may seem overcautious but it assures the producer they are clean
• When on farm, avoid walking in feed areas or watering areas
• On leaving the farm, scrub boots and all equipment that is washable with clean water, a brush and detergent. Rinse and apply disinfectant. If possible, leave the disinfectant on
• For sensitive equipment that cannot be washed, wipe down with a damp, paper towel. Follow up with a second paper towel dampened with disinfectant
• Scrub hands, including fingernails, thoroughly with detergent before leaving the farm. When possible, wear disposable gloves. This will make hand washing more effective
• If possible, leave contaminated materials on the farm
• Remove dirty outerwear before entering your vehicle. Store in garbage bags or in plastic bins with lids for appropriate laundering. Plastic bins do not rip and are easy to wash
• Many disinfectants degrade over time. Make sure your disinfectant is fresh. For example, ViralFX™ is usually only good for 1 week (or when it goes from pink to clear) once it is mixed in solution
• At the end of the day :
     a. Remove any contaminated material from the designated "dirty" area of the vehicle
     b. Clean "dirty" area and floor mats by vacuum or brush out any organic matter, then disinfect so that the entire vehicle is "clean."
     c. Wash vehicle regularly, preferably with a power wash with special attention to tires and wheel wells

High Risk

• Attempt to move from youngest animal groups to oldest animal groups
• When equipment, boots and/or outer clothing becomes very dirty, take time to clean or change before moving to the next animal group on the farm
• Only enter barns/pens that are essential for you to enter. Only have direct contact with the animals or groups of animals that it is essential for you to have contact with

Vehicle Equipment - Moderate Or High Risk Visits

• Divide the vehicle into "clean" (e.g. interior passenger area) and "dirty" compartments (e.g. trunk). Never enter the "clean" compartment with soiled footwear or clothing. The vehicle is considered "clean" at the start of the day and a "dirty" compartment is designated for soiled materials after the first farm visit
• Rubber (washable) floor mats are required for each person in the car or truck
• A single piece of rubber or heavy plastic liner, which can be removed for cleaning and disinfection, is required to cover the whole trunk or truck box. Large plastic containers are placed on the liner as equipment carriers

Farm Equipment Kit - Moderate Or High Risk Visits

• Clean coveralls and boots that are easily disinfected and do not collect organic debris. Boots with narrow deep treads should be avoided. Consider purchasing nylon coveralls for use in wet, dirty conditions. Although not completely waterproof, they are less permeable than cotton and are less apt to soak through. They are also windproof, and light, and stand up well in the washing machine. They can be damaged in the dryer but they do air dry quickly
• Winter parka (if worn) made of moisture resistant fabric they should be restricted to use on a single premises per day and cleaned/sponged with disinfectant solution before re-use. Consider a three-in-one jacket with detachable shell made of nylon, and an inner liner of nylon and polypropylene. These stand up well to frequent washing
• If required, plastic non-permeable tool box that can be easily cleaned and disinfected and contains all testing equipment
• If required, sharps container that is disposable or readily disinfected
• Protective equipment, e.g. disposable gloves, and polyethylene bags to store used coveralls and contaminated material
• For proper cleaning of boots and equipment and to avoid biofilms: a stainless steel pail, a boot brush, a detergent and a disinfectant are essential. Boot brushes are normally are 11 cm x 11 cm (4" x 4"). Do not use a larger brush. Plastic pails can be used - see point 11
• Detergents can be any common dish detergent. They may double as a hand cleaner
• Use ViralFx™ according to label and know the MSDS information. Remember that ViralFx™ require at least a 5 minutes contact time to be effective
• If water is not provided on site, bring at least four litres
• Testing equipment, including plastic/metal clipboard and cover, forms, etc., is kept "clean" until used on a premiseAll plastic equipment, carriers, etc. should be replaced regularly as any deep scratches cannot be readily cleaned and disinfected