Mass Slaughter of 1.2 Million Chickens Ordered in Iowa Due to Bird Flu Outbreak
In response to the confirmation of bird flu at an Iowa egg farm, an additional 1.2 million chickens are mandated to be culled to curb the spread of the virus. This marks the second significant incident of bird flu this week in Iowa.
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship reported the latest bird flu case at a farm in Taylor County on Friday. Promptly, Iowa’s governor declared a disaster in the area to ensure the availability of necessary resources for quick response.
This new case in Iowa contributes to the continued outbreak that commenced last year and has resulted in the culling of a total of nearly 63 million birds. Earlier this week, 1 million chickens were destroyed at a Minnesota egg farm. However, the majority of cases, around 58 million birds, occurred last year.
Upon the confirmation of a bird flu case, the entire flock is euthanized to prevent the highly contagious virus from spreading to other farms.
This year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has observed a decrease in wild birds carrying the virus, indicating potential immunity development in some ducks and geese. Meanwhile, farmers are diligently implementing preventive measures to safeguard their farms, and the government is striving for swift action following any bird flu discovery.
Iowa remains the most severely affected state, with over 17 million birds culled since the onset of the outbreak. As the leading egg producer in the country, Iowa’s egg farms are home to a significant number of birds. During a case last year, 5 million chickens were culled at a single Iowa egg farm.
Following Iowa, Nebraska has culled over 6.7 million birds, Colorado 6.26 million, and Minnesota 5.6 million.
During the current fall season, most cases have emerged in Minnesota, South Dakota, and Iowa, all situated along the major migratory routes utilized by ducks and geese as they head south for the winter. The virus spreads through the droppings of wild birds that can be carried onto farms. As expected, there has been an increase in cases since the commencement of the fall migration.
Poultry and egg farmers have enacted stringent measures to prevent the virus from reaching their farms, such as requiring workers to shower and change clothes before entering barns, sanitizing trucks prior to farm entry, and maintaining separate sets of tools for each barn.
While the losses last year contributed to elevated egg and poultry prices, prices have seen a significant drop this year.
The bird flu is not believed to pose a threat to food safety, as all birds on affected farms are culled before entering the food supply. Additionally, proper cooking at 165 degrees Fahrenheit (73.89 degrees Celsius) effectively eliminates any viruses. Human infections are rare and typically occur in individuals with prolonged exposure to sick birds.
