Investigation and quantification of prevalent risk factors for the introduction of avian influenza in European poultry farms

The following review aims to gain more insight into farm management in European poultry farms, to identify prevalent risk factors for the introduction of avian influenza (AI) and to develop a procedure to assess a farms risk status. Data on farm management were gathered by using questionnaires and visitor books in 343 farms in Austria, Germany, and The Netherlands. In addition, the farmers documented private and production related visitors for 30 days in a logbook. To evaluate the results, an international expert panel defined and weighted the most important risk factors for AI introduction at farm level within a three-stage Delphi study. Based on this evaluation, all farms were assigned to three classes of risk. To communicate the results to the farmers as comprehensible as possible, a traffic-light scheme was used. The highest risk class represented poultry farms with a high potential for AIV introduction.