Avian Influenza affects all poultry and fowl producers.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service (APHIS), in cooperation with Federal partners including
the Department of the Interior (DOI) and the Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS), has developed a national response plan for quickly and
effectively responding should HPAI occur in the United States.

The overall goal for response to HPAI is to detect, control, and eradicate
the virus as quickly as possible to return individual poultry facilities to
normal production and the United States to disease free status.

It is important that all producers have a voice in shaping the United States
Avian Influenza Response Plan. In order to facilitate understanding of this
plan, the University of Minnesota's College of Veterinary Medicine is
working to reach out to potentially affected poultry and gamebird
organizations, such as yours.

Please include this attachment in your next announcement to your members.

Respectfully,

Kristina M. McElroy, DVM
Center for Animal Health and Food Safety
College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Minnesota
136 Andrew Boss Laboratory
1354 Eckles Ave
St. Paul, MN 55108

Tel 612-626-3161
Fax 612-624-4906
Email: MCEL0078@umn.edu
Web: www.cahfs.umn.edu