In response to the confirmation of the bird flu virus at an Iowa egg farm, an additional 1.2 million chickens will be slaughtered to prevent its spread. This marks the second massive case of bird flu this week.
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship reported the latest bird flu infection at a farm in Taylor County on Friday. Iowa’s governor swiftly declared a disaster to ensure the state has the necessary resources to respond promptly.
This Iowa case adds to an outbreak that started early last year, leading to the culling of nearly 63 million birds. Earlier in the week, 1 million chickens were eradicated on a Minnesota egg farm. The majority of cases, approximately 58 million birds, occurred last year.
Whenever a case of bird flu is identified, the entire flock is culled to prevent the highly contagious virus from spreading to other farms.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has observed fewer wild birds carrying the virus this year, indicating potential immunity development in ducks and geese. Farmers have also been vigilant in protecting their farms, while the government remains proactive in responding to any instances of bird flu.
Iowa has been the hardest hit state, with over 17 million birds culled since the outbreak began, attributed to its status as the nation’s leading egg producer.
Nebraska, Colorado, and Minnesota follow with millions of birds culled. Most recently, cases have been concentrated in Minnesota, South Dakota, and Iowa, along major migratory paths for ducks and geese, with increased cases expected during the fall migration.
Poultry and egg farmers have implemented stringent measures to prevent the virus from reaching their farms, including sanitation protocols for workers and vehicles.
While the losses from last year led to higher egg and poultry prices, prices have significantly decreased this year. Officials assert that bird flu does not pose a threat to food safety, as all birds on affected farms are slaughtered before entering the food supply.
Infections in humans are rare and usually only occur in people with prolonged exposure to sick birds. Properly cooking poultry and eggs to 165 degrees Fahrenheit (73.89 degrees Celsius) will kill any viruses.
