No Avian Contact Policy.pdf

MEMO – No Off-Site Avian Contact Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory [SEPRL] is a unique research facility that includes a production unit for rearing specific-pathogen-free [SPF] chickens and turkeys; and containment facilities for research on exotic, endemic and emerging avian disease problems that impact avian and human health.

Disease transmission among poultry flocks is often associated with personnel or equipment movement from infected to susceptible flocks. To prevent the spread of infectious diseases at SEPRL, we rely on a series of operational [clothes changes, showers, etc.] and physical barriers. These barriers, described in detail in SEPRL’s General Laboratory Biosafety/Biosecurity Guidelines, are intended to prevent the release of infectious agents from our laboratory and animal buildings. We require these precautions for two reasons: 1] chickens, turkeys, and pet birds are susceptible to one or more of the infectious agents in our research program; 2] infections of commercial poultry & pet birds are a potential hazard to our production flocks. Consequently, we are not only concerned about what personnel might accidentally carry away, but we are also concerned about what personnel can bring to SEPRL! Such events could result in the infection of our SPF flocks or flocks outside our premises at a great economic loss. Either event would have a disastrous impact on our perceived capability & could affect our ability to continue our research program.

These restrictions may be more restrictive than at laboratories where you might have worked in the past.

But, such requirements are not unique to this laboratory. The USDA Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service has a similar rule that prohibit its employees from coming into contact with susceptible species for at least seven days after being in contact with or on a premise where infected species are located.

Hopefully, everyone will understand the reason for these restrictions & will comply with not only the letter but also the spirit of the rule; thereby realizing the serious negative effects that could result from the inadvertent release of a pathogen from our laboratory.

Signature:

Date:

Printed Name:

DATE: April 2022 SUBJECT: No Off-site Contact with Avian Species

TO: SEPRL Employees, Visiting Laboratory Workers and Contractors

FROM: D. E. Swayne, Laboratory Director

As a final barrier is the stipulation that employees are not to come into contact with susceptible avian species or their housing when away from SEPRL, without written permission from the Lab Director [or his representative]. This prohibition includes no visit to or working on a poultry farm or other location where poultry are present; and no poultry or pet bird(s) in your residence or on the property where you reside. The Lab Director can give an exemption to limited avian contact, as long as the employees & visitors must not have any contact with susceptible animal species for a period of at least five [5] days after being in a BSL2 lab or animal building used for endemic disease research & seven [7] days after being in a BSL3+ lab or animal building used for exotic & emerging disease research.

Please sign, date & return this memo to the Biosafety Officer, so that we will have a record that you have received, read & understand these requirements.