The devastating toll of the Bird Flu continues to plague the poultry industry, with more than 1.3 million chickens facing slaughter on an Ohio egg farm. The US Department of Agriculture announced the drastic measure after confirming a case of the highly contagious virus within the flock this week.
This year’s outbreak, though less severe than the previous year, has witnessed the culling of 8.1 million birds in an effort to curb the spread of the disease.
Over 1.3 Million Chickens Culled on Ohio Egg Farm
In November alone, 5.8 million birds were culled, highlighting the recent challenges faced by several large egg farms, including a staggering 1.2 million birds in Iowa and 940,000 chickens in Minnesota.
Egg farms, often characterized by large-scale operations, with millions of birds, have been particularly vulnerable to the avian influenza.
Iowa, the nation’s leading egg producer, has been severely impacted, reporting the loss of nearly 17.3 million birds in this outbreak. Ohio, another major egg-producing state, has seen 5.1 million birds culled due to the bird flu.
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Egg Industry Crisis Due to Bird Flu
The recent week has witnessed substantial avian influenza cases across farms in Minnesota, Maryland, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Georgia, and California. Among these cases, the Maryland chicken farm faced a significant loss, with 198,200 birds culled.
While farmers implement stringent biosecurity measures, such as requiring workers to shower and change clothes before entering barns, sanitizing farm-entry vehicles, and using separate tools for each barn, the virus remains difficult to control—particularly along migration routes for birds heading south for the winter.
Officials emphasize that while bird flu poses minimal health risks to humans, with extremely rare cases reported, none of the infected birds enters the nation’s food supply.
Proper cooking of poultry and eggs to 165 degrees Fahrenheit (73.89 degrees Celsius) is effective in eliminating any viruses, providing reassurance to consumers concerned about the potential impact on food safety.
As the poultry industry grapples with the ongoing challenges posed by the avian influenza, farmers and authorities remain vigilant in their efforts to contain the spread and protect the welfare of both animals and consumers.
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