FOWL POX INFECTIONS: A MUST READ TO ALL POULTRY FARMERS!

This note is directed to poultry farmers most especially the backyard farmers. Over my years of experience in poultry farming, I have worked with several backyard and small scale farmers including my personal small scale farm. Helping them to start up their farm, diagnosing and treating theirs birds from various infections.
Over the years, I have noticed that the two major infections that wipe away most small scale poultry farms are coccidiosis and fowl pox infections. These two infections are the major enemy of farmers, though I have device several cheaper effective methods to eradicate this diseases in my own way as I have taken control over all the backyard farmers in my local area, and I have experimented my simple theory. This farmers will not call when they purchase the growing birds but will only called when there is problem with their stocks.

Asides from my methods the best and cheapest way to deal with this phenomenal is to follow the vaccination programme issued at the hatchery, any omission will cause great havoc to the stocks and what end up - LOSS! Loss of money, resources and time.
As my contribution to the Poultry Industry, I have taken my time to research and gathered useful information as regards fowl pox infections.
Pls Read, Digest and Share! Thanks.
☆What is Fowl Pox?
Fowlpox is a common disease in backyard chickens that have not been vaccinated. Fowl pox is a slow - spreading viral infection of infection of chickens and turkeys characterised by proliferate lesions in the skin that progress:
¤ To a thick swabs (cutaneous form, "dry external form").
¤ By lesions in the G.I and respiratory tracts (diphtheric form, "wet internal form").
¤ Virulent strains may cause lesions in the internal organs (systemic form).
☆What Causes Fowl Pox?
Fowl Pox (Sorehead) is caused by a virus of the family Poxviridae and the genus Avipoxvirus. This is a woldwide disease that can be transmitted by direct or indirect contact, as well as through biting insects. It commonly affects poultry, such as chickens and turkeys e.t.c.
The disease manifests itself in one or two ways, cutaneous pox (dry form) or diphtheritic pox (wet form).
*Dry Form: Spread by biting insects (especially mosquitoes) and wound contamination. Dry pox starts as small whitish infection that develops into wart-like nodules. The nodules eventually are sloughed and scab formation precedes final healing. Lesions are most commonly seen on the featherless parts of the body (comb, wattles, ear lobes, eyes, and sometimes the feet and around the vent). Mosquitoes can harbor ineffective virus for a month or more after feeding on affected birds.
After the infection is introduced, it spreads within the flock by mosquitoes as well as direct and indirect contact.
*Wet Form: The second form is spread by inhalation of the virus and causes a diphtheritic (false) membrane to form in the mouth, pharynx, larynx, and sometimes the trachea. Yellowish cheese-like areas may occur on the inside of the mouth, the prognosis for this form is poor.
☆Medicating The Fowl Pox Virus:
Fowl Pox is a virus and cannot be treated with any antibiotics (which are all designed to fight bacteria not viruses); F.P can be prevented mainly by given the vaccination at 4 to 6 weeks and it can be treated with local ointments, and various anti-viral drugs that treats avian pox. Waterers, feeders should be washed regularly. Mosquitoes breeding sites and nearby bush should be cleared as well. Infected birds should be isolated.
The dry form is the first stage, it is external. It grows and spreads faster, if not properly taken care of - it normally disfigured the host face covering its eyes, nose and mouth. External fowl pox are ecto-parasites just like ticks, they are attached to the wattles, combs and other meaty parts of the host body. They sucks blood and compete nutrients and vitamins with the host. It is advisable to give oil base vitamins supplements to the affected birds. Excess pox can be removed by surgical operation [this is my theory (fast action)].
In the case of wet-pox, it is rarely necessary or effective to treat with a systemic antibiotic as the respiratory problems are caused by lesions that are viral in nature. If severe respiratory distress happens, a veterinarian should be consulted. In the meantime, ointments, tylodox can help soothe the irritated airways and help birds to breathe and feel somewhat better.
☆The Good and Bad News about Fowl Pox:
Pox is like an annoying old acquaintance one hopes never returns to the farm after its first visit. Unfortunately, FP does tend to return but with limits. Both the wet and dry forms of FP are spread via mosquito bite or by the scabs which drop off and remain infectious for months.
The good news is that once birds contract FP they will never have another case of that pox for the rest of their lives, rather like chicken pox in humans. The risk of FP can be reduced by pin-prick inoculation into the webbing of young birds’ wings or a thigh-prick in turkeys over 2-months of age. The vaccine and is readily available at most online poultry supply houses. The dry form tends to only last 2 weeks and resolve on its own.
The bad news is that while pox is active, the flock will be vulnerable to secondary infections – both cutaneous (the skin) and systemic (their whole system). The wet form can be particularly difficult, sometimes even deadly, without a good effort at boosting immune systems. The dry form, however, is rather easy to handle.