Would better poultry biosecurity prevent avian influenza?

Traditional approaches to biosecurity failed to stop the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza in 2022. Instead, a paradigm shift in biosecurity that includes new technologies to monitor farm activities is needed to stop future outbreaks of the virus.

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Matthew Maaskant | freeimages.com
Matthew Maaskant | freeimages.com

Traditional approaches to biosecurity failed to stop the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza in 2022, said Jean-Pierre Vaillancourt, DVM, professor, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal.

Instead, a paradigm shift in biosecurity that includes new technologies to monitor farm activities is needed to stop future outbreaks of the virus.

“In terms of biosecurity, what we’ve put in place on farms are measures that were already known over 2,000 years ago,” he noted.

Vallancourt is one of the many experts scheduled to speak at the Poultry Tech Summit, scheduled for October 30 - November 1 in Atlanta, Georgia. This one-of-a-kind in-person event facilitates the transition of innovation technologies from researchers and entrepreneurs into commercial applications for the benefit of the poultry industry. 

Make plans to attend and take a look at the future of the industry.

Registration for the 2022 Poultry Tech Summit is now open.

New technologies to improve poultry biosecurity

The two most important rules of biosecurity are to 1) reduce sources of contamination and 2) create distance between the poultry flock and any potential contamination.

Newly developed temperature monitoring sensors ensure that poultry houses, cages, shipping vehicles and all other potential sources of contamination are properly disinfected between flocks.

“With the sensors, you can guarantee that you reached your temperature and duration, so that you’re pretty sure that you got rid of any kind of pathogen,” Vaillancourt said. 

Another new technology to improve biosecurity is microchips inserted into personal protection equipment (PPE) or onto a hand sanitizer station. The microchips detect if PPE is worn outside the building or if procedures are not followed. One of the primary vectors of disease spread is people entering and exiting poultry houses.

“We won’t know where employees are going once they leave the building, because we’re not Big Brother,” Vaillancourt was quick to caution. 

However, these sorts of metrics can help improve compliance with biosecurity protocols because they create real-time feedback for employees and can help manager identify areas where additional training is necessary.

View our continuing coverage of the global avian influenza situation.

Attend the 2022 Poultry Tech Summit

Join an exclusive international gathering of industry-changing innovators, researchers, entrepreneurs, technology experts, investors and leading poultry producers at the 2022 edition of Poultry Tech Summit on October 30 - November 1 in Atlanta, Georgia. 

Attendees can expect the same groundbreaking innovation and insightful presentations that made the previous events well-attended with deep dialogue on new prospective solutions and next-generation technologies. Poultry Tech Summit focuses on the transition of innovative technologies into commercial applications to advance the poultry industry. 

Registration is now open.

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