Strict Biosecurity and Epidemiological Segmentation Enable Partial Culling During a Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza...

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Animal Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• European and national legislation mandates culling of entire poultry populations upon confirmation of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).
• Standard HPAI outbreak response typically involves the destruction of all birds on affected premises.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a case deviating from mandatory mass culling protocols for HPAI.
• To demonstrate the feasibility of partial culling in a biosecure, segmented poultry holding.

Main Methods:

• A risk assessment was conducted on a highly biosecure, epidemiologically segmented holding with an HPAI outbreak.
• Only the affected unit was culled, while other units were intensively monitored and tested.
• Continuous HPAI virus (HPAIV) testing was performed on remaining populations.

Main Results:

• Partial culling of the affected unit successfully prevented further disease spread.
• Approximately 138,000 birds (75% of the population) were saved from destruction.
• Other units consistently tested negative for HPAIV despite intensive sampling.

Conclusions:

• Effective management and high biosecurity can prevent excessive animal culling during infectious disease outbreaks.
• This case presents a potential best-practice model for managing HPAI in similar biosecure environments.