Avian influenza is caused by an influenza type A virus which can infect poultry and, in its highly pathogenic form, can spread very quickly from bird to bird via airborne transmission or indirectly via contaminated material. Chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, domestic ducks, geese, and guinea fowl can all be infected with avian influenza.

At present, there are cases of avian influenza in Europe, the USA and other parts of the world, but it is especially in the USA domestic flocks that the surveillance program has been reporting multiple detections of Eurasian H5 strain of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) have confirmed the outbreak and are now working hard with poultry operators to prevent further spread of the disease and to ensure that it does not enter the food system.

Given the fact that no specific or definitive treatment for the disease exists, it is fundamental to strengthen biosecurity and monitoring activities in poultry farms during this high-risk period to act in a timely manner and prevent contamination.

Thermo Fisher Scientific can support poultry operators with products for screening of birds for avian influenza as recommended by the Avian Viruses Section at the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL), sample collection recommendations.

Thermo Scientific™ Remel™ BHI Broth is available in 4 mL or 5 mL tubes in packs of 20 or 100 units and Thermo Scientific™ Flocked Swabs come in cases of 100 individually wrapped, sterile swabs. For more information about these products click on the links below. Alternatively, these products may be ordered online in the US by visiting fisherscientific.com and typing the order code into the search bar.

• Remel™ BHI Broth (Brain Heart Infusion Broth) R060270 | 100 x 5 mL (15 mm x 103 mm Tube)
• Remel™ BHI Broth R060272 | 20 x 5 mL (15 mm x 103 mm)
• Remel™ BHI Broth R060266 | 20 x 4 mL (15 mm x 103 mm Tube)
• Remel™ BHI Broth R060264 | 100 x 4 mL (15 mm x 103 mm Tube)
• Thermo Scientific™ Disposable Sampling Swabs R12544 | Case of 100 (sterile, flocked, nasopharyngeal swab,14 cm (5.9 inch) length, 10 cm (3.9 inch) breakpoint, individually wrapped)

If you would like more information on testing solutions for poultry click here or contact the supplier for more details using the green "Request Information" button below.