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An avian influenza outbreak has led to the slaughter of over 1.3 million chickens at an Ohio farm, according to a report by The Associated Press.
The US Department of Agriculture confirmed that the Union County egg farm is taking this measure after a case of bird flu was identified.
While the outbreak has been less severe this year compared to 2022, 8.1 million birds have been culled on commercial poultry farms, with 5.8 million in Ohio alone, as reported by the AP.
Notably, this isn’t the only farm facing this dilemma, as an Iowa egg farm and a Minnesota farm have each killed over 940,000 birds this month alone.
According to the CDC, human cases of bird flu remain rare, with only one reported case of the H5N1 strain of the virus in the US since 2022.
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What is the bird flu?
The bird flu is a disease caused by a family of flu viruses primarily transmitted among birds.
According to the CDC and USDA, avian influenza viruses are classified into two groups: Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza (LPAI) and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).
As per the CDC, LPAI viruses cause mild or no disease, while HPAI causes severe disease and high mortality rates in infected birds.
The outbreak has led to significant financial losses and increased egg and poultry prices, with over 65 million birds being slaughtered since 2022 to contain the virus.
What are signs of bird flu?
Signs thata bird may be infected with avian influenza include:
- Loss of appetite and lethargy
- Sudden death without prior symptoms
- Eyelid swelling
- Twisting of the head and neck
- Purple discoloration to body parts, including waddle and legs
- Stumbling and falling
- Diarrhea
- Difficulty breathing
- Nasal discharge
