By the end of this section, you should know the requirements for returning to a disease free state and recovering from financial losses.
Continuous monitoring and testing for avian influenza are required before an area can be released from quarantine.3
Once decontamination is complete, the infected premises must have a downtime of 42 days or until sampling shows negative results for AI virus.
Downtime is a period of time immediately after a premises has been cleaned and disinfected in which poultry areas are left empty and unused so they can dry completely.
Downtime is absolutely essential because even after a thorough cleaning and disinfection effort, some viral particles are likely to remain. Dry surfaces create a less favorable environment for viral survival and growth, thus forcing the pathogens to decline to a point where susceptible animals have a slim to no chance of infection.
Release of infected premises from quarantine requires that all surrounding areas are also eligible for quarantine release.
