To help farmers and governments battle the current avian influenza outbreak, DuPont today announced it has accelerated efforts to supply DuPont™  Virkon® S veterinary disinfectant where it is needed most to help prevent the avian flu from spreading.

Virkon® S has been independently tested to be effective against the H5N1 avian flu strain, the current virus which is now impacting several nations and the poultry industry in Eastern Europe and Asia. Independent tests conducted by the Harbin Veterinary Research Institute in China confirmed that Virkon® S inactivates the H5N1 avian flu virus when used appropriately.  Globally regarded as among the most effective virucidal disinfectant agents available, Virkon® S works as a preventive measure, enhancing sanitary conditions of livestock areas and helping to prevent avian influenza from spreading. 

"The cornerstone of Emergency Disease Control preparation must be to maintain a heightened state of vigilance against avian influenza," said Dr. Stephen Lister, a European veterinarian and a biosecurity expert who has provided counsel on previous avian flu outbreaks.  "Control protocols for this highly contagious disease should be based on sound and effective continuous biosecurity measures, using a disinfectant independently proven effective against the H5N1 avian influenza virus.  Effective Emergency Disease Control strategies must be a priority for governments and poultry producers internationally."  

In an effort to address the emerging need, DuPont Animal Health Solutions  has increased supplies of its Virkon® S disinfectant into Europe and Asia Pacific regions, working closely with distributors in the areas affected by avian influenza H5N1 virus.  During last year's avian influenza outbreak in Asia and the 2003 outbreak in the Netherlands, Virkon® S was the disinfectant of choice used by various governments to help prevent the "bird flu" from spreading.  Virkon® S was also used during the 1999 outbreak in Italy.

DuPont Animal Health Solutions and its local partners also are providing biosecurity training in Europe and Asia - informing farm staff, veterinarians and government officials of key preventive biosecurity control measures to minimize the spread of avian influenza in the future.  Biosecurity procedures on farms include vehicle disinfection, farm border controls, and rigorous disinfection measures.  DuPont™ Tyvek® coverall garments are also used to protect farm employees during the disposal of infected poultry.

"For more than 200 years, DuPont has been delivering both innovations and 'know-how' that make people's lives safer and better," said Nick Fanandakis , vice president and general manager - DuPont Chemical Solutions Enterprise, which includes DuPont Animal Health Solutions.  "As a global science company, DuPont is prepared to assist during this time of need, and - most of all - to give hope to farmers, governments and others who have been devastated by the outbreak."

With recent outbreaks of avian influenza in Russia, Romania and Turkey, Lister and other European veterinary experts have advised poultry producers to heighten their biosecurity vigilance to reduce the likelihood of infectious migratory wild birds from infecting the tens of millions of European birds.  Whether the flocks are housed or not, vehicles may pickup the virus and carry the organism onto the farm where workers can potentially spread the disease by touch, on their clothing and footwear, Lister said.

DuPont Animal Health Solutions' biosecurity experts recommend that poultry producers should ensure that their biosecurity measures include:

• Effective perimeter control
• Transport biosecurity - wheel dips and sprays
• Foot dips
• Hand washing and protective clothing
• Avoiding poultry stock coming into contact with wild birds
• Thorough cleaning of poultry houses with a heavy duty multipurpose cleanser
• Regular, thorough and effective disinfection of poultry houses - the avian influenza virus survives well in water so washing with water alone may actually assist transmission

DuPont Animal Health Solutions is part of the DuPont Safety & Protection growth platform. DuPont Safety & Protection is focused on finding solutions to protect people, property, operations and the environment by leveraging and expanding 203 years of DuPont experience as one of the safest companies in the world; its recognized excellence in science and technology; and its knowledge of key markets.  DuPont Safety & Protection is dedicated to using its science and technology to provide environmentally responsible clean and disinfect technologies for the prevention of disease and to improve productivity in the food, healthcare, household, institutional and industrial markets.

DuPont is a science company.  Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere.  Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture, nutrition, electronics, communications, safety and protection, home and construction, transportation and apparel.

10/27/05

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