In 2015, the U.S. experienced an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in commercial poultry flocks throughout the country, with profound impacts in the Midwest, most notably Iowa and Minnesota. This symposium will explore the effects of the 2015 HPAI outbreak on the U.S. poultry industry, and how both industry and government have adapted best practices and response plans based on experience to better defend the poultry industry from future infectious disease outbreaks, both natural and intentional. The three speakers will address the outbreak from the perspectives of industry, state government and federal government covering both the outbreak in Minnesota and Iowa. They will discuss immediate and long-term impacts to the poultry industry of the outbreak, with a particular emphasis on biosecurity and other production-based changes. Additionally, they will discuss those challenges faced by government responders, including personnel capacity (surge) for control measures, and depopulation and response timelines.

Presentations