Tracking down Disease with Dr. Geneviève Huard: Animal Health Insights, Ep. 5, May 4 2021

Infectious disease enters a barn the same way you do.. through the door! This poultry veterinarian shares how a few extra steps can change the movement of pathogens into farms and lower disease risk. 

When veterinarians discuss disease prevention, they often talk about the importance of excellent biosecurity practices. Biosecurity refers to the protective measures put in place to minimize the chance that any infectious pathogen, such as a virus or bacteria, can make it’s way from the outside of the farm to the inside of the barn; infecting a herd or a flock. In the face of an emerging disease or other disease threat, veterinarians will emphasize that producers should work to increase biosecurity measures. Sometimes, it can be difficult to imagine how these biosecurity changes may actually impact animal health - since some of the measures seem so simple and common sense. 

Dr. Geneviève Huard, a poultry veterinarian and researcher, worked on a project that provides visual evidence of how pathogens can move into our barn facilities, and shows what we can do to keep pathogens outside the barn.

Links of Interest:

• Poultry Production, Penn State Extension
• Biosecurity Basics for Poultry Growers, University of Georgia
• Government of Canada, Animal Biosecurity
• Avian Biosecurity, Government of Canada
• Biosecurity, Nova Scotia
• Animal Health and Biosecurity, Manitoba
• B.C. Poultry Biosecurity Reference Guide
• Biosecurity Fundamentals for Visitors to Livestock Facilities, Ontario Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Rural Affairs