Changes in Poultry Handling Behavior and Poultry Mortality Reporting among Rural Cambodians in Areas Affected by HPAI/H5N1

Maria D Van Kerkhove,Sirenda Vong,Punam Mangtani,Azra Ghani,Davun Holl,Sorn San,Sowath Ly,Javier Guitian

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0006466

Abstract

BackgroundSince 2004, 21 highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 outbreaks in domestic poultry and eight human cases have been confirmed in Cambodia. As a result, a large number of avian influenza education campaigns have been ongoing in provinces in which H5N1outbreaks have occurred in humans and/or domestic poultry.Methodology/Principal FindingsData were collected from 1,252 adults >15 years old living in two southern provinces in Cambodia where H5N1 has been confirmed in domestic poultry and human populations using two cross-sectional surveys conducted in January 2006 and in November/December 2007. Poultry handling behaviors, poultry mortality occurrence and self-reported notification of suspect H5N1 poultry cases to animal health officials in these two surveys were evaluated. Our results demonstrate that although some at risk practices have declined since the first study, risky contact with poultry is still frequent. Improved rates of reporting poultry mortality were observed overall, but reporting to trained village animal health workers decreased by approximately 50%.Conclusions/SignificanceAlthough some improvements in human behavior have occurred, there are still areas—particularly with respect to the handling of poultry among children and the proper treatment of poultry and the surrounding household environment—that need to be addressed in public health campaigns. Though there were some differences in the sampling methods of the 2006 and 2007 surveys, our results illustrate the potential to induce considerable, potentially very relevant, behavioral changes over a short period of time.

Highlights

Since 2004, 21 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 outbreaks in domestic poultry have been confirmed in Cambodia including six H5N1 outbreaks in Kampong Cham Province (5 outbreaks) and Prey Veng Province (1 outbreak) [1,2]
In January 2006, a cross-sectional survey was conducted in Kampong Cham and Prey Veng Provinces, Southern Cambodia, to determine the extent of backyard poultry ownership and to obtain an in depth understanding of the behavior of adults domestically exposed to poultry [5]
Contact with domestic poultry Touch sick or dead poultry with bare hands Allow children in the household play with poultry Use dead domestic poultry from yard for household consumption Care or help care for poultry Slaughter poultry Contact with poultry at live bird markets Ever bought poultry from the market for food during the study period Contact with wild birds Eat wild birds Collect dead wild birds from the field for household consumption Ever prepared wild birds for food Potential environmental contamination Prepare poultry near a pond, river, or water well Wash poultry products directly in the water source Use poultry feces for manure {X2 or Fishers exact test p-value adjusted for gender. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0006466.t003

Summary

Introduction

Since 2004, 21 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 outbreaks in domestic poultry have been confirmed in Cambodia including six H5N1 outbreaks in Kampong Cham Province (5 outbreaks) and Prey Veng Province (1 outbreak) [1,2]. As a result of the human and domestic poultry H5N1 outbreaks in these two provinces, a large number of avian influenza education campaigns have been carried out in these areas. Since 2004, 21 highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 outbreaks in domestic poultry and eight human cases have been confirmed in Cambodia. A large number of avian influenza education campaigns have been ongoing in provinces in which H5N1outbreaks have occurred in humans and/or domestic poultry

Methods

Results

Conclusion