In the publication of CCTV International published online on of May 6, Chinese scientists have unveiled more information on the source of the H7N9 bird flu virus. A recent research study done by the China Disease Prevention and Control Center is helping unravel the origins of the virus and how to contain its spread. “Poultry sold at markets and birds migrating through China are believed to be the sources of the H7N9 virus. Research showed that among 8 gene segments in H7N9, 6 are re-assorted ones from H9N2, which is another bird flu virus that is common among China’s poultry. One gene segment is believed to have come from chickens in Jiangsu province, while the other 5 are believed to have come from chickens in Shanghai and areas surrounding Zhejiang province." What if H7N9 starts to be a real problem for the Chinese economy, when it escapes the wet-market environment and lands in a large-scale poultry production unit? As a professional crisis manager, I have worked for the past 10 years, contracted by veterinary authorities, managing and handling over 1.100 crisis situations related to animal disease outbreaks worldwide. My experience makes me doubt whether the available culling techniques are sufficiently safe and effective in order to control a large-scale outbreak of H7N9.

1. The Anoxia method: new approach of killing & slaughter during outbreaks
Harm Kiezebrink Page 1 5/9/2013
Will Human to Animal contact trigger for the next human pandemic?
In the publication of CCTV International
published online on of May 6, Chinese
scientists have unveiled more information
on the source of the H7N9 bird flu virus. A
recent research study done by the China
Disease Prevention and Control Center is
helping unravel the origins of the virus and
how to contain its spread.
“Poultry sold at markets and birds migrating
through China are believed to be the sources of the H7N9 virus. Research
showed that among 8 gene segments in H7N9, 6 are re-assorted ones from
H9N2, which is another bird flu virus that is common among China’s poultry. One
gene segment is believed to have come from chickens in Jiangsu province, while
the other 5 are believed to have come from chickens in Shanghai and areas
surrounding Zhejiang province."
What if H7N9 starts to be a real problem for the Chinese economy, when it
escapes the wet-market environment and lands in a large-scale poultry
production unit? As a professional crisis manager, I have worked for the past 10
years, contracted by veterinary authorities, managing and handling over 1.100
crisis situations related to animal disease outbreaks worldwide. My experience
makes me doubt whether the available culling techniques are sufficiently safe
and effective in order to control a large-scale outbreak of H7N9.
Three major correlated issues need to be taken into account:
1 Human – to – Animal contact (H2A)
2 Availability of appropriate culling techniques
3 Risks for the start of a human pandemic
1 Human – to – Animal contact
Because all existing culling methods include human to animal contact it is
unlikely that H7N9 can be completely eliminated in any of the affected countries.
The probability of humans being infected with the virus is significantly higherthan
H5N1 and even higher than the human infection risks of the H7N7 outbreak
which happened in 2003 in Holland and Belgium. In the article : “Transmission of
H7N7 Avian influenza A virus to human beings….”1
: Published in the Lancet
vol.363 February 21, 2004 the writers arrive at the following conclusion:
"Although we launched a large and costly outbreak investigation (using a
combination of pandemic and bioterrorism preparedness protocols), and
despite decisions being made very quickly, a sobering conclusion is that by
1http://n2gf.com/?p=998

2. The Anoxia method: new approach of killing & slaughter during outbreaks
Harm Kiezebrink Page 2 5/9/2013
the time full prophylactic measures were reinforced (1 week after the first
confirmation of human infection), more than 1000 people from all over the
Netherlands and from abroad had been exposed.
Therefore, if a variant with more effective spreading capabilities had arisen,
containment would have been very difficult. We see this outbreak as
providing strong support for the need for pretested pandemic preparedness
plans, including the stockpiling of essential control components such as
vaccines and antivirals."
In Holland, a National Preparedness Plan was in place. Strict protocols,as well as
Standard Procedures for site management & control, cleaning & disinfection, and
culling & disposal etc.,were strictly followed. Despite the precautions in place
where relief workers had been provided with prophylactics and Personal
Protection Equipment, still at least 56% of relief workers got infected. This was
mainly due to close contact with diseased animals. In order to control the
outbreak, poultry on 1/3 of all farms had to be culled. Infected relief workers
played an important role in the further spread ofH7N7 throughout Holland and
spread over into Belgium.
H7N9 infections appear to be more dangerous. In a paper published in the
Lancet on May 4th
20132
Prof. George Gao of the Chinese Center for Disease
Control and Prevention in Beijing and his co-authors put out a warning regarding
Human – to – Animal contact risks:
"Unknown intermediate hosts involved might be implicated, extensive global
surveillance is needed, and domestic-poultry-to-person transmission should
be closely watched in the future."
2 Availability of appropriate culling techniques
Most existing techniques have been developed during the first large-scale
outbreak of H7N7 in Holland/Belgium in 2003. Despite all efforts to quickly
contain the virus, 28% of all commercial poultry ended up being culled. This
resulted in economic losses of around 284 million Euros.
Water-based firefighting occlusion foam3
(developed in the US)was the first
attempt to create a culling method that would exclude H2A contact, but the
technique is complex and the applicabilityis limited to large numbers of floor-
reared broilers only. The cause of death is occlusion of the trachea resulting in
suffocation of the animal and is therefore widely considered as inhumane4
.
Except water-based firefighting occlusion foam, all available other culling
methods developed during the outbreak(electrocution/hypoxia) include H2A
2http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2813%2960767-9/fulltext?rss=yes
3http://n2gf.com/?p=824
4http://n2gf.com/?p=1029.

3. The Anoxia method: new approach of killing & slaughter during outbreaks
Harm Kiezebrink Page 3 5/9/2013
contact. It is safe to assume H2A contact will occur in order to contain an
outbreak of H7N9.However with information about the risks being more and more
known through internet and other media outlets to (potential) relief workers, the
difficulties to recruit them will become a severe constraint in fighting future
outbreaks.
The culling of poultry using existing electrocution and hypoxia techniques is
therefore undesirable.
3 Risks of a human pandemic
The risks of human infection in combination with a lack of safe applicable
techniques could easily lead to irrational decisions by the crisis management
team. If relief workers are engaged in H2A contact on a large scale and offered
poor protection equipment, which in case of large scale culling is often the case,
such relief efforts could lead to an outbreak amongst relief workers and helps
spreading the virus instead of containing it.
A different approach is needed: Anoxia
I favor a radically different approach. For this reason, the Anoxia Method5
has
been developed as the most suitable method for general use of on-farm killing,
culling and slaughter excluding A2H H2A contact as much as possible.
This method:
Prevents H2A contact during culling operations
Minimizes the time needed for animals to die
Is applicable to all mammal species
Is applicable to the killing of small numbers of free ranged animals up to
large quantities of animals, independent of the type ofhousing system
Can be applied in the field, in containers or big bags; and in any type of
barn or shed, regardless of the ventilation system in use
Is the most humane method available on the market today and prevents
animals from being buried, burned or macerated alive (due to panic
reactions or the unavailability of alternatives)
Can be used by local fire brigades, reusing most of their already existing
and available techniques.
Is easy to apply because most components are already in use by fire
brigades.
Ina report in Poultry Science6
published in May 2013, the Proof of Concept for
the Anoxia Method has been delivered. Since January 1, 2013, the Anoxia
5http://n2gf.com/?p=961&goback=.gna_4875573.gde_4875573_member_235493877
6http://n2gf.com/?p=1008

4. The Anoxia method: new approach of killing & slaughter during outbreaks
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Method has been approved within the EU7
.
The equipment needed to apply the Anoxia method is in production and will be
commercially available per June 1, 2013. Please go to
www.anoxiamethod.comand www.N2GF.comfor more information.
About the author
Harm Kiezebrink (1958) is an international consultant on animal diseasecontrol
and emergency management. He has hands-on experience in various mass
culling operations and developed new technologies for optimum performance. He
is a regular advisor fornational governments and international organizations.
7http://n2gf.com/?p=401.