Talking points prepared for delivery by Dr. Richard Raymond, Under Secretary for Food Safety, to the Washington State Planning for Pandemic Influenza Summit on Friday, April 14, 2006, in Tacoma, Washington.

Introduction
I would like to thank everyone for this opportunity to brief you on USDA's avian influenza efforts. It's great to see so many people wanting to learn more about this important topic and what they can do to help. I want you to know that your support will be critical.

While the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus has not been detected in the U.S., it's likely we will see it here eventually.

USDA's Four Part Approach
That is why President Bush's National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza is focused on mobilizing the Government's wide-ranging expertise and resources. The Administration's goal is to ensure that all appropriate preparations are being made for the potential spread of the disease to our country.

The official U.S. government Web site for pandemic flu is PandemicFlu.gov. You can also visit AvianFlu.gov for more information on avian influenza.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is playing many important roles in this effort. USDA's four-part approach to combating avian influenza includes limiting the spread of the virus overseas through international outreach. USDA's official Web site is www.usda.gov/birdflu.

Second, we're also educating the American public through a proactive campaign to inform and not alarm. Third is USDA's aggressive surveillance program, which includes wild birds, commercial poultry, live bird markets, and backyard flocks.

The fourth aspect of our efforts is to execute our response plan. As some of you might know, USDA has a long and successful history of dealing with highly pathogenic avian influenza. High path AI has been detected three times in the United States since the 1920s. During the most recent outbreak — in 2004 — USDA worked with state, local, and industry officials to quickly identify, contain, and eradicate the source.

USDA continues to work with the international community affected by the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus. Any help that we can offer these countries in containing this virus could help to protect both animal and human health in the United States.

There is clear agreement that a global effort is needed to address the disease in poultry to prevent a more serious health situation among humans.

That's why USDA is taking an active role in the global campaign against avian influenza and we are coordinating our work with affected countries through the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Organization for Animal Health.

USDA has sent teams of experts to educate, conduct research, and assist other countries with monitoring and eradication efforts. In addition, we are preparing to work as part of an international team to conduct country by country assessments of their needs in relation to AI.

These are important steps, but we believe that our work here at home is every bit as important and we are not waiting for the virus to reach our shores — our strategy is to prepare as if the virus will reach the United States.

Domestically USDA is enhancing smuggling interdiction and trade compliance; increasing bird vaccine stockpiles and other response supplies. For example, USDA has a smuggling interdiction team that works closely with the Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection to prevent illegal smuggling of birds and poultry products. This will help prevent the introduction and dissemination of H5N1 into the United States through illegal products.

In addition, USDA is bolstering biosecurity measures, surveillance and reporting. These efforts help to ensure that we have the swift control, eradication, and disinfection capabilities that are critical in the event of a highly pathogenic H5N1 or other serious AI detection.

USDA is well positioned to accomplish this goal not just because of our past experience in combating AI, but also because of the partnerships that have been forged with State animal health officials and the poultry industry.

Migratory Bird Surveillance
Nearly three weeks ago, Secretary Johanns, joined by Secretary Leavitt from the Department of Health and Human Services and Secretary Norton from the Department of the Interior, announced the migratory bird surveillance plan. This plan expands on the existing monitoring of migratory birds in the U.S. and establishes common protocol for tracking the data.

The plan specifically targets the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus. Surveillance already has begun in Alaska and will expand to the other four major North American flyways over the course of the next several months.

Early detection and rapid response are the keys to controlling and minimizing the effects of highly pathogenic avian flu. The expanded migratory bird testing gives us one more important tool in this regard.

Commercial Poultry Surveillance
USDA is not new to animal disease response and eradication efforts. We have State-level emergency response teams on standby that can typically be on site within 24 hours. Eradication of the affected flocks would be our primary course of action.

In response to highly pathogenic avian influenza as well as for low pathogenic H5 and H7 subtypes, USDA in cooperation with the States, would follow five basic steps. These five steps include: Quarantining and restricting the movement of poultry and poultry equipment into and out of the control area; Humanely destroying the bird population in the control area; Cleaning and disinfecting the affected poultry operation after the birds have been depopulated; Increasing the amount of testing for AI throughout the region to quickly detect any spread; and Maintaining the quarantine of the affected area until the intensive testing demonstrates that the poultry population is AI-free.

USDA also maintains a bank of avian influenza bird vaccines that most likely would be used to protect healthy birds outside a control area, if necessary.

There are 40 million doses on hand. This includes 20 million doses for H7 and 20 million doses for H5, which have been proven effective against highly pathogenic H5N1 AI. Another 70 million doses are in development to supplement the already large stockpile of vaccines.

Conclusion
In closing, I'd like to offer a few thoughts that I believe are central to this discussion.

First, detection in birds does not signal the start of a human pandemic. This virus is not easily transmitted from person to person. The human illnesses that we have seen overseas have resulted from direct contact with sick or dead birds.

Secondly, detection in wild birds does not mean the virus will reach a commercial poultry operation, but we are prepared to respond quickly and decisively if it does. The U.S. poultry industry employs a very sophisticated system of firewalls to protect the safety of their product.

After all, commercial poultry are typically raised in covered buildings — offering limited exposure to wild birds. It's also important to note that the U.S. commercial poultry industry is highly consolidated and that means it would be easier to wipe out the virus.

Third, even if the virus reaches a commercial poultry operation, there is no reason for consumers to be concerned about eating poultry. I'm very familiar with this issue as Under Secretary for Food Safety.

We have always recommended proper preparation and cooking, which protects consumers from avian influenza and other foodborne illnesses. Properly prepared poultry is safe to eat — it's as simple as that.

You should always follow these simple food safety steps: wash your hands and cooking surfaces frequently; keep raw food and cooked food separate; cook poultry to at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit; and chill leftovers promptly.

A minimum internal temperature of 165° F in poultry meat will kill any viruses or bacteria that might be present in poultry. So it's important to always use a food thermometer to make sure you've cooked poultry to that safe temperature of 165° F.

Thank you again for the opportunity to update you on USDA's avian influenza efforts.