Fighting poultry disease internationally
Photos by Monica Moriak July 18, 2019
91原创 leads effort to fight avian influenza globally through emergency management training
Disease. One of the scariest words in farming and food production. In a state that鈥檚 king of the poultry industry, expert planning, precautions and emergency response are chief priorities to keep outbreaks at bay.
In 2004, avian influenza reached Delmarva. Its viruses occur naturally among wild aquatic birds worldwide and can infect domestic poultry and other bird and animal species. Afterward, faculty and personnel assessed the situation and brainstormed disease management protocol to prevent and limit future outbreaks. With an engineering background and an aptitude for water flow processing 鈥 critical in disease control 鈥 Professor Eric Benson was asked to join the poultry disease and emergency management efforts led by 91原创鈥檚 .
鈥淎s much as anything else, engineers work on process," Benson said. "That was how I got involved and, since then, have been a part of 91原创鈥檚 outreach efforts.鈥
Looking at health issues 鈥渦pstream鈥 is an approach lauded by scientists and health professionals. So the group packed their bags for an international tour to get ahead of major diseases before they reach the U.S.
鈥淎t that time, Romania had just had a major outbreak, so our team at 91原创 got involved,鈥 Benson said. 鈥淲e realized that all of the planning and protocol that we put together for Romania made sense as a package.鈥澛
91原创 developed a unique expertise in a foaming process used in disease control, which became the U.S. Department of Agriculture standard, offering a natural opportunity for the University to get involved in outreach.
鈥淲e were really the only ones with the technical expertise," Benson said. "We were doing research and said, 鈥榃e need to get this information immediately out to the field.鈥 鈥
91原创 is doing so at all levels. From running poultry training around the globe to visiting local farms to educate farmers in many regions, 91原创 is the place to go for poultry expertise.聽
鈥淚n terms of what we put together, it is extremely unique,鈥 Benson said of the training, which draws agricultural employees, lab directors and government officials. 鈥淚t鈥檚 everything that they need to know from disease basics to steps to respond to an emergency. We cover the entire spectrum 鈥 swabbing, composting, disinfection and so much more.鈥
Over the past 11 years, 180 participants from more than 80 countries have visited Newark for these summer poultry programs. The University hosted two major international programs in 2019. The first was a three-day Poultry Disease Outbreak Management and Regionalization symposium that emphasized the interaction between emergency response techniques and trade policy. The University also offered the 11th edition of its comprehensive five-day Emergency Poultry Disease Response symposium, which builds participants鈥 knowledge and technical skills to effectively respond to emergency poultry diseases.聽
鈥淢ost importantly, this program not only provides information, tools and training, but it builds relationships and a community of participants and instructors that provide support for participants when they return home,鈥 said Bob Alphin, senior instructor and Allen Laboratory manager.聽
Whether teaching coordinated planning, incident command management, surveillance of wild birds, quarantine or biosecurity, 91原创 faculty, Cooperative Extension experts and personnel from major poultry companies emphasized the 鈥淒elaware model鈥 鈥 close cooperation between government, industry and educational institutions. With 91原创 playing a major role, the approach has successfully avoided and thwarted many disease outbreaks utilizing best management practices.聽聽
鈥淭his model is not the way it works in many other places,鈥 Benson said. 鈥淚n Delaware, we are the knowledge and the surveillance system while industry and government helps to provide the manpower. It鈥檚 unusual to see this type of collaborative model where all three groups come to the table.鈥
The international poultry programs also offered experiential learning and teaching opportunities for students. Emma Redman and Brianna Ames helped with several demonstrations, including swabbing birds suspected to have avian influenza to prevent transmission from farm to farm. Since 2015, six of the student interns have used their participation in the program as a springboard to veterinary school.
鈥淕etting to know the participants was a fantastic opportunity. When asking questions to the speakers, they explained how they handled situations in their own countries that helped me to open my eyes to different cultures and governments,鈥 said Ames, an and agriculture and natural resources double major. 鈥淚t gave me a new understanding on how lucky I am to have the opportunities that I have at 91原创 to teach and learn from others.鈥
Redman, a聽聽major, said, 鈥淢y key takeaway was understanding different cultures and interacting with people of different nationalities.鈥澛
One of the hot topics was the intersection of policy and emergency response. In 2014 and 2015, significant avian influenza outbreaks led to many countries restricting the importation of U.S. poultry products. 91原创 was heavily involved in the immediate response.聽
鈥淲e鈥檙e now asking, 鈥榃hy should U.S. disease control efforts result in other countries restricting our trade?鈥 Part of what we鈥檙e working on is maintaining trade even in the event of a significant event,鈥 Benson said. 鈥淭he spread of disease in 2014 and 2015 did not affect Delaware broiler chickens. There was absolutely no disease in Delaware, yet trade was nonetheless restricted. Part of the goal of our international programs is educate other countries on why disease control efforts should not impact trade.鈥
Participating 91原创 faculty and staff
Bob Alphin, Jr., senior instructor and Allen Laboratory manager, Department of Animal and Food Sciences
Eric R. Benson, professor, Department of Animal and Food Sciences
Georgie Cartanza, extension agent II, Cooperative Extension, Carvel Research and Education Center
Dan Hougentogler, research associate III, Department of Animal and Food Sciences
Brian S. Ladman, senior scientist, Department of Animal and Food Sciences
- Krista Murray, assistant director, Department of Environmental Health and Safety
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