California Avian Health Education Network (CAHEN)

In 2018, a substantial portion of Southern California’s backyard and commercial poultry flocks were significantly impacted by a devastating outbreak of virulent Newcastle Disease (vND) that lasted more than two years. The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) worked jointly to identify infections and halt rapid spread of the vND virus before its eradication midyear 2020. As a result of this outbreak and in an effort to prevent more in the future, CDFA established California Avian Health Education Network (CAHEN). This program is dedicated to offering education, training, outreach, testing, and vaccination options for backyard poultry flock owners, other bird enthusiasts, stakeholders, and everyone dedicated to avian health in Southern California. By working together, CDFA, USDA, University of California extension groups and community partners aim to keep California free of foreign animal diseases to prevent similar devastation in the future.

Vision

Prevention of need for large-scale regulatory response to an emergence of reportable avian disease, as required for the 2018-2020 virulent Newcastle Disease outbreak, through engaging community members and building effective partnerships between government agencies, academic institutions, avian health experts, bird enthusiasts, and various segments of associated industries; focused towards enhancing avian health, preventing foreign animal disease introduction, supporting immediate disease detection and ensuring rapid containment of disease.

Mission

A community-focused network of partnerships focused on prevention, early detection, and rapid containment of foreign animal diseases (FAD), such as those caused by virulent Newcastle and Avian Influenza viruses, in California domesticated bird populations. Achievement of the CAHEN vision through:

PREVENTION of outbreaks of FAD in birds through education, training, and outreach to community partners,
EARLY DETECTION of FAD by expansion of existing capabilities through consistent and targeted active and passive surveillance, and
RAPID RESPONSE to FAD outbreaks with specialized strike teams of personnel with established relationships within the community and related stakeholders

Goals & Strategies

Goals

To provide educational materials and outreach activities about avian health topics
To promote community awareness, participation, and support of FAD control activities
To encourage flock owners adoption and implementation of biosecurity measures to prevent introduction and spread of avian diseases
To rapidly detect, respond, and eradicate outbreaks of FAD while minimizing impact to communities, the commercial flock industry, international trade, and taxpayers

Strategies

Education, Training and Outreach (ETO)

Work with social influencers in the community and on social media
Educating young people through school and youth activities
Collaborating agriculture-oriented groups such as 4-H, FFA, Grange, fairs, county ag commissioners, and UC cooperative extension
Various bird fancier groups such as show bird owners and racing pigeon owners
Working with state and local veterinary medical associations
Engaging college teachers and students
Providing outreach and collaboration to local government partners, animal shelters and wildlife refuge and rehab centers
Online training presentations

Surveillance Testing

Passive surveillance includes maintaining the Sick Bird Hotline and CAHFS lab backyard flock necropsy program
Active surveillance includes targeted testing of hobby flocks, feed store poultry, Live Bird Markets, auctions, swap meets, commercial poultry farms, and smaller independent poultry producers. Testing is also included for import or export/ international and interstate movement of poultry.

Rapid Response to FAD (vND and avian influenza) Detection

Detect early
Prevent disease spread so that large area quarantines and response can be avoided

Assurance and Certification Programs

Hobby Flock Quality Assurance and Certification Programs
- Low risk hobby flocks will be certified based on voluntary participation in routine surveillance sampling; education, training and outreach on bird husbandry and health issues; implementation of flock plans including biosecurity training and procedures; and requirements to report disease in the flocks.
- Flocks that do not qualify as low risk will have a similar quality assurance and certification program which will include the elements of the low risk flock program as well as a vaccination program for vND. The vaccination program will include extensive training in vaccination technique and timing, and vaccine handling.
- Development of programs is still in progress. Sign up is available now and more information will be provided as it is available.
If you are interested in volunteering for this program, call us at 866-922-2473

Backyard Biosecurity Training
Retail Feed Store and Pet Store Quality Assurance and Certification Program
- Biosecurity plans, training and audits
- Monitoring of records and sources of poultry which are present in the store for disease traceability
- Regular testing of birds in the stores
- Development of program is still in progress. Sign up is available now and more information will be provided as it is available.
If you are interested in participating in this program, call us at 866-922-2473

Feed Store Biosecurity Training