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About IDPH

H5N1 Roles and Responsibilities in Illinois

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

  • Implements national agricultural policy and conducts nationwide avian influenza H5N1 surveillance.
  • Oversees avian influenza H5N1 confirmatory testing at the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa.
  • Requires mandatory reporting of avian influenza H5N1-positive animals from veterinarians and testing laboratories.
  • Works with the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) and farm/flock owners when avian influenza H5N1 infections are identified on Illinois farms.
  • Handles poultry livestock depopulation, carcass sanitary management, and financial reimbursement to farm/flock owners.
USDA website on avian influenza H5N1 in poultry flocks, wild birds, livestock, and other mammals here

Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA)

  • Leads policy, investigation, enforcement, and licensing of state animal health and welfare issues.
  • Works alongside the USDA on the above farm operations-related matters related to avian influenza H5N1.
  • Mandates the reporting of any avian influenza H5N1-positive animals in the state.
  • Provides information on avian influenza H5N1-positive farms to IDPH by way of the state veterinarian.

Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH)

  • Works to prevent and protect against disease and injury, prepares for health emergencies, advocates for evidence-based human health policy, and promotes health equity.
  • Performs rigorous statewide influenza surveillance from clinical samples, wastewater, and other data sources (syndromic surveillance, laboratory variant typing, etc.).
  • Mandates the reporting of novel influenza in a human patient.
  • Receives information from IDOA on H5N1-positive farms. The state public health veterinarian provides this information to the IDPH respiratory disease unit in the Communicable Disease Section.
  • Works with local health departments (LHDs) to promptly contact affected farms to identify potentially-exposed persons who will be monitored for 10 days after their last avian influenza exposure using an anonymous survey system (REDCap) housed at IDPH. If any exposed persons develop symptoms during their monitoring period, the respiratory disease team works with the LHD to assist in respiratory specimen collection and expedited testing for avian influenza H5N1 as needed.
  • Tests approved specimens for avian influenza H5N1 at one of the three IDPH laboratories – Chicago, Springfield, and Carbondale. “Non-negative” tests are forwarded to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) laboratories for final confirmation.
  • Collates data on avian influenza H5N1 in the state and posts this data to an internal dashboard hosted by the IDPH Informatics group.
  • Arranges for emergency requisition and supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) to avian influenza H5N1-affected farms via the IDPH Office of Preparedness and Response.

Local Health Departments (LHD)

  • Works directly with avian influenza H5N1-affected farm owners to gather the names and contact information for potentially exposed employees.
  • Monitors exposed employees confidentially for 10 days following their last potential exposure to avian influenza H5N1.
  • Arranges for expedited specimen collection and testing if an exposed individual develops symptoms of avian influenza H5N1.
  • Receives requests for personal protective equipment (PPE) from farms and directs them to the IDPH Office of Preparedness and Response.
  • Receives reports from local medical providers on suspect cases of avian influenza H5N1 in their jurisdiction. Enters suspect cases into the state’s disease surveillance system—I-NEDDS—and contacts the respiratory disease group at IDPH to report cases and arrange for influenza test submission to IDPH labs.
  • Counsels residents who may have had contact with avian influenza H5N1 about their potential exposures, risk factors, need for symptom monitoring, and avenues to receive any needed medical care and testing.

Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR)

  • Manages, conserves, and protects the state’s natural, recreational, and cultural resources.
  • Monitors the health and migration of wild animals and birds in the state.
  • Collects information on wild bird die-offs as they may relate to possible infectious diseases.
  • Works with USDA Wildlife Services to surveil and test wild animals for avian influenza H5N1 and other possible infectious disease agents.