Chapter III Guidelines to be considered in the case of suspicion of AI on a holding

The variability of clinical signs for both HPAI and LPAI means that clear-cut guidance for a suspected outbreak is not possible. A sudden, high mortality in poultry with or without any of the associated clinical signs described in Chapter II must be investigated by the submission of samples for laboratory investigation, but in the absence of high mortality, it is more difficult to suspect or exclude the presence of AI.

Since rapid diagnosis of HPAI or LPAI caused by H5 and H7 subtypes is of paramount importance in their early control and eradication, AI must always be considered in the differential diagnosis of respiratory problems, egg production problems and elevated mortality in poultry and the appropriate samples submitted for laboratory investigation.