Deadly avian influenza, known commonly as bird flu, has reared its damaging presence this season in the commercial poultry flocks of the United States. The high-risk virus has impacted a turkey farm in Utah, as well as one in South Dakota, sparking fears of additional outbreaks.
Notified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the public became aware of these reports confirming the presence of bird flu. The virus had hit a flock of 47,300 turkeys in South Dakota’s Jerauld County on October 4. Five days later, a further 141,800 birds were affected on a farm located in Utah’s Sanpete County.
These recent outbreaks represent the first reports within commercial flocks since April, when the virus infected two turkey farms in the Dakotas. Normally, control measures involve destroying infected flocks to inhibit the further spreading of the virus, followed by a thorough decontamination.
The recent months had only observed casual sightings of bird flu in backyard flocks or wild avifauna such as ducks, eagles, and geese. The apparent health of wild birds often does not betray the presence of avian influenza. However, the potential of these carriers to infect commercial poultry flocks poses a significant concern to the industry.
Foreseeing an imminent risk, South Dakota State Veterinarian, Beth Thompson commented, “I don’t doubt that we will have more cases. I would be very pleasantly surprised if we’re done because migration is just starting.”
Last year’s bird flu epidemic cost U.S. poultry producers nearly 59 million birds across 47 states, including meat chickens and egg-laying chickens and turkeys, marking the deadliest outbreak to date, as per USDA figures. The outbreak led to inflated egg and turkey prices for consumers and cost the government over US$660 million.
The infection does not represent a food safety risk for humans and is relatively rare. However, the virus’s ability to infect other species, including some mammals, has sparked concerns amongst scientists about the possibility of a mutation allowing easier transmission amongst humans.
Officials in the agriculture industry view this year’s cases as a continuation of last year’s outbreak, which hit the U.S. in February 2022 after propagating in Europe. Periodic restrictions on poultry imports from Europe have been implemented by the U.S. to limit potential spreading. Thompson added that unlike in 2015, the virus had not entirely disappeared, with the current strain essentially equivalent to that of last year.
The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food spokeswoman, Bailee Woolstenhulme, pointed out, “We’re just encouraging bird owners to make sure they’re increasing their biosecurity practices because avian flu is still out there, and it’s easy to contract.”
Farmers, however, have been maintaining strict biosecurity measures for several years. They can do scant more than they have already implemented to prohibit the virus from infiltrating their flocks. The principal strategy involves preventing wild bird droppings from being brought into poultry barns on clothing, shoes or even on farm equipment, dust particles, and small animals.
The recent case is Utah’s first this year, following a toll of one egg farm, 16 turkey farms, and several backyard flocks hit last year. Similarly, South Dakota observed a loss of around 4 million birds last year, while Iowa, the most heavily affected, has not registered any cases since March, following a loss of almost 16 million birds.
