UPDATED HIGHLY PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA RESPONSE PLAN   Dear Gamefowl and Gamebird Producers:   Avian Influenza affects all poultry and fowl producers.    The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), in cooperation with Federal partners including the Department of the Interior (DOI) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has developed a national response plan for quickly and effectively responding should HPAI occur in the United States.   The overall goal for response to HPAI is to detect, control, and eradicate the virus as quickly as possible to return individual poultry facilities to normal production and the United States to disease free status.   It is important that all producers have a voice in shaping the United States Avian Influenza Response Plan. In order to facilitate understanding of this plan, the University of Minnesota's College of Veterinary Medicine is working to reach out to potentially affected poultry and gamebird organizations, such as yours.   Please include this attachment in your next announcement to your members.   Respectfully,   Kristina M. McElroy, DVM Center for Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine University of Minnesota, 136 Andrew Boss Laboratory 1354 Eckles Ave, St. Paul, MN 55108   Tel 612-626-3161 Fax 612-624-4906 Email: MCEL0078@umn.edu   Web: www.cahfs.umn.edu     UPDATED HIGHLY PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA RESPONSE PLAN   May 2007   Dear Gamefowl and Gamebird Producers,   The August 2006 draft of the National Highly Pathogenic Response plan is now online at the USDA website.     The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will use the draft response plan for rapidly detecting and quickly and effectively responding, should highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus enter the United States.   This document is a living document in that it will continue to evolve as additional comments are received and more knowledge is gained on avian influenza.    APHIS is actively seeking comments from all sectors of the poultry industry.    Please take a moment to review the plan and provide feedback to the link:   http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/hot_issues/avian_influenza_summary.shtml   Please address your comments to: NAHEMS.Guidelines.Comments@ aphis.usda.giv   Additional information on avian influenza guidance for non-confinement poultry production is available at:    http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/hot_issues/avian_influenza/contents/printable_version nonconfiement_poultry-ai_guidance4-18-06.pdf     Center for Animal Health and Food Safety • University of Minnesota