* US EPA approved efficacy, poultry viral pathogens. Not approved for use in California.

Check the Virkon™ S product container label for the comprehensive list of bacteria, viruses and fungi.

Avian Influenza (Fowl Plague), also referred to as bird flu, is a potentially devastating disease, predominantly of chickens and turkeys, although the virus can also affect game birds (pheasants, partridge and quail), ratites (ostrich and emu), psittacine and passerine birds.

Avian Influenza is caused by an orthomyxovirus, or influenza virus and can survive for considerable lengths of time outside of the host with birds being infected through contact with other birds, mechanical vectors such as vehicles and equipment and personnel traveling between farms, markets and abattoirs.

Create and practice a continuous disinfection program to prevent Avian Influenza from entering the farm environment.

When considering an effective disinfection program, it is essential to bear in mind that the Avian Influenza virus can survive for considerable lengths of time outside of the host and birds can be infected through a number of vectors:

• Contact with other birds
• Contact with mechanical vectors such as vehicles and equipment
• Contact with personnel

1. Establish a secure 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.

2. Minimize the number of visitors, and where possible provide “farm only” boots and overalls.

3. Put a shower-in policy into place and provide hand-washing facilities.

4. Clean vehicle wheels and personnel rubber boots with Virkon™ S as per product container label directions. Ensure that the solution is changed on a daily basis.

5. Ensure that all vehicles have been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected prior to arrival at site.

6. Only allow essential vehicles to enter with all others (staff, delivery & service vehicles etc.) being kept outside the perimeter.

1. Remove all poultry and feed from premises, trucks or other vehicles, coops, crates or other enclosures.

2. Remove all litter droppings and manure from floors, walls and surfaces of barn pens, stalls, chutes and other facilities and fixtures occupied or traversed by poultry or other animals.

3. Empty all troughs, racks, and other feeding and watering appliances.

4. Apply a Biosolve™ heavy duty cleaner at 1:100 (1%) to all non-porous hard surfaces at low pressure and leave for 10 minutes to help penetrate & lift dirt, muck etc. Thoroughly clean and rinse with water.

5. Saturate surfaces with the use-diluted disinfecting solution, Virkon™ S, for a period of 10 minutes (as per product label instructions).

6. Immerse all halters, ropes, and other types of equipment used in handling and restraining animals, as well as forks, shovels, and scrapers used for removing litter and manure.

7. Ventilate buildings, vehicles, coops, and other closed spaces. Do not house poultry or livestock or employ equipment until treatment has been absorbed, set, or dried.

8. Thoroughly scrub treated feed racks, mangers, troughs, automatic feeders, fountains, and waterers with soap or detergent, and rinse with potable water before reuse.

For further consideration:

• Put in an effective rodent control program.
• Wild bird proof your poultry house – block up holes or inlets where wild birds can gain entry to your poultry barn.
• Provide staff training and raise disinfection awareness.

Effective cleaning is essential to help remove any dirt, biofilm or organic material from surfaces. Lanxess Biosolve™ detergents can be used for everyday farm cleaning. Once the non-porous hard surfaces are cleaned, Virkon™ S, can be used to disinfect against viruses, bacteria, and fungal disease-causing organisms. Consult Virkon™ S product label for full list of pathogens.

Wild birds should not be killed to fight bird flu, put an effective control and surveillance system in place to ensure that contact between wild birds and poultry is avoided or at least monitored.

Ensure that poultry pens and drinking water supplies cannot be contaminated by migrating birds. If this cannot be done, then make the drinking water safe, by appropriate treatment, if necessary. Following the thorough cleaning and disinfection of the water system.  This precaution will help prevent the water supply from acting as a vector for the transmission of disease.