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From Wyoming to Maine, the highly contagious avian flu epidemic has swept farms and backyards across the United States this year, resulting in the culling of millions of chickens and turkeys.
Iowa has been especially hard hittingwith disaster is declared in some counties and states cancel live bird exhibits in a pattern that could impress the famous state fair.
Here’s what we know about bird flu.
What is bird flu?
Avian flu, more commonly known as avian flu, is a highly contagious and deadly virus that can prey on chickens, turkeys and wild birds, including ducks and geese. It is spread through nasal secretions, saliva, and fecal droppings, which experts say make it harder to contain.
Symptoms of the virus include a spike in a flock’s death rate, a drop in egg production, and a reduction in feed and water consumption.
Eurasian H5N1 is closely related to the virus. Asian strain Since 2003, it has infected hundreds of people, mostly those working with infected poultry. Her prevalence in the United States It is not unexpected, with outbreaks previously reported in Asia, the Middle East and Europe.
Should people be worried about getting infected?
Ron Kean, a faculty member and extension specialist at the University of Wisconsin in the Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences at Madison University, said the risk to humans is very low.
“It’s not impossible for humans to get this virus, but it’s been pretty rare,” Professor Kean said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it monitors people in the United States who are exposed to infected poultry and other birds. The CDC said that so far there has been no case of H5N1 infection among them.
Is it safe to eat poultry and eggs?
Yes, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture told Poultry and eggs that are properly prepared and cooked must not pose a risk to consumers.
The agency said the chances of infected poultry entering the food chain are “extremely low”. According to federal guidelines, Food Safety and Inspection ServicePart of the USDA, it is responsible for the inspection of all poultry sold in interstate and foreign commerce. According to the service, which states that inspectors have unrestricted access to these facilities, inspectors must be present at all times during the slaughtering process.
Federally regulated egg production facilities must undergo daily inspections once per shift, according to the inspection service. State inspection programs that only inspect poultry products sold in the state in which they were produced are also monitored by the USDA.
Experts say the virus is currently primarily an animal health issue, as infected herds are required to be culled.
Still, the USDA recommends cooking poultry to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit To reduce the potential for foodborne illness.
Can I expect to pay more for poultry products?
Egg prices soared due to an epidemic that swept the United States in 2014 and 2015. According to a study published March 25, the average price of premium large white eggs has “tendred to rise sharply” recently. national retail report Published by the USDA Experts said that if the infections spread to more flocks, there may be some egg shortages. White and black chicken meat prices also increased risingExperts warned that turkey prices could also become more volatile, according to the USDA.
How is the virus detected?
Bird flu testing typically involves cleaning the mouths and tracheal areas of chickens and turkeys. Samples are sent to diagnostic laboratories for analysis.
Outbreaks have been detected in more than a dozen states.
As of March 31, a highly pathogenic form of bird flu had been detected in 19 states. tracking page It showed that it was maintained by the USDA.
According to the agency, the total number of birds in the infected flocks – commercial and backyard type – exceeded 17 million. A USDA spokesperson confirmed that these birds should be euthanized to prevent the spread of the virus.
A commercial egg production facility in Buena Vista County, Iowa, made up the largest infected flock, with more than 5.3 million chickens, the USDA said.
An egg producer in Jefferson County, Wisconsin, ranked second on the list with more than 2.7 million chickens. A commercial poultry flock in Del., New Castle County was the third largest infected flock with over 1.1 million chickens.
How do these outbreaks compare to previous ones?
this epidemic in 2014 and 2015 It was blamed for $3 billion in damage to the agricultural sector in the US and is considered the most devastating in the country’s history. About 50 million birds died, mostly in Iowa or Minnesota, either from the virus or from having to be culled.
The footprint of the current outbreak stretching from the Midwest and Plains to northern New England has raised concerns.
Associate Professor in the Ohio State University School of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. “I think we’re definitely seeing more geographic spread than we saw in 2014-2015,” said Andrew Bowman.
What can be done to stop the spread of the virus?
USDA last year warns of possibility of bird flu epidemic highlighted the tightening of “biosecurity” measures to protect chicken and turkey flocks.
Biosecurity measures include limiting access to flocks and mandating farm workers to take strict hygiene measures, such as wearing disposable boots and overalls. Experts say sharing farm equipment can contribute to the spread of the virus. So do farm workers who come into contact with wild birds, including hunting.
Dr. “Whether this is limiting access to where we supply our feed and water, or whether it’s truck routes, it’s really important how we try to limit these connections between flocks that can spread pathogens,” Bowman said. “At this point, everyone who produces poultry needs to think about how to improve their biosecurity.”
Is it necessary to kill millions of chickens and turkeys?
Infected birds can experience complete paralysis, swelling around the eyes, and twisting of the head and neck, according to the USDA.
Methods include spraying chickens and turkeys with suffocating foam. In other cases, carbon dioxide is used to kill birds whose carcasses are often composted or placed in a landfill.
“It’s arguably more humane than letting them die of the virus,” said Professor Kean.
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