By Andi Anderson
The highly contagious bird flu virus continues to take a toll on the U.S. egg industry, with over 8 million birds culled this year to control the spread of the disease. This week alone, sizeable outbreaks were confirmed on farms in multiple states, including Minnesota, Maryland, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Georgia, and California.
The latest outbreak in Ohio saw the slaughter of 1.35 million chickens at an egg farm in Union County. This follows the culling of millions of birds at egg farms in Iowa, Minnesota, and Maryland in recent weeks. Iowa, the nation's largest egg-producing state, has been hit particularly hard, with nearly 17.3 million birds killed since the beginning of the year.
The virus, which is spread easily by wild birds through droppings and nasal discharges, has been less severe this year compared to 2022, when nearly 58 million birds were slaughtered. However, the recent surge in cases has raised concerns among egg producers and state officials.
Farmers are implementing various measures to protect their flocks, including requiring workers to shower and change clothes before entering barns, sanitizing trucks that enter farms, and investing in separate sets of tools for each barn. However, the virus remains difficult to contain, especially along migratory bird routes.
Despite the outbreaks, officials emphasize that bird flu does not pose a significant health threat to humans. Human cases are extremely rare, and no infected birds enter the food supply. Properly cooking poultry and eggs to 165 degrees Fahrenheit (73.89 degrees Celsius) effectively kills any viruses.
The ongoing bird flu outbreaks underscore the challenges faced by the egg industry in protecting its flocks from infectious diseases. While farmers are taking steps to mitigate the risk, the virus's unpredictable nature and the movement of wild birds make it difficult to fully prevent outbreaks.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-wikoski
Categories: Ohio, Livestock, Poultry