3rd Minnesota Turkey Farm Hit by Bird Flu Outbreak | Page 5 | Animals | Forums

Really starting to wonder why this isn't all over the news. Asia has a major flu bird outbreak and it's non stop 24/7

(Reuters) - Iowa Governor Terry Branstad declared a state of emergency on Friday due to a rapidly expanding avian flu outbreak, saying the entire state was at risk from the spread of the disease.

The announcement, which gives authorities powers to enforce preventative measures, was made soon after state agriculture officials announced four new poultry farms had initially tested positive for the virus.

Iowa, the top egg-producing state in the United States, is the third state to declare a state of emergency because of the viral outbreak, which either has led or will lead to the extermination of up to 21 million chickens and turkeys nationwide.

Minnesota and Wisconsin declared states of emergency in April.

Iowa's state of emergency is effective immediately now and will be in force until at least the end of May, depending on developments in the outbreak, Branstad told a news conference.

The measure expands the efforts of the state's emergency response plan, and authorizes various state entities access to additional resources, supplies and equipment to track and contain the influenza outbreak. It also allows for the removal and disposal of infected animals on either public or private lands and lifts weight restrictions on trucks hauling culled flocks, among other things.

In addition, the action allows the state and local law enforcement to set up checkpoints and road blocks anywhere in the state, including areas outside of quarantined farms.

"While the avian influenza outbreak does not pose a risk to humans, we are taking the matter very seriously," Branstad said in a statement.

Dozens of countries have imposed total or partial bans on U.S. poultry and poultry imports since the outbreak of avian influenza was discovered in December.

As of Friday afternoon, Iowa officials said, 21 farm sites in 10 Iowa counties had been identified as having either confirmed or presumed positive cases of the highly pathogenic H5 strain of bird flu.

The tally includes the nine Iowa farms that tested positive in the past 24 hours, including a commercial egg operation housing up to 5.5 million birds in Buena Vista County, and a separate egg-laying farm that houses 1 million birds in Madison County, according to Iowa's agriculture department.

So far, an estimated 16 million egg-laying chickens in Iowa are in infected or presumed infected farm facilities - meaning that at least one-quarter of the state's flock will have to be killed and disposed of, state officials said.

http://www.reuters.c.....E320150501

20 states now

Bird flu is raging through poultry farms across the United States. It's the largest outbreak in U.S. history, affecting 20 states and tens of millions of birds. The disease is particularly ravaging farms in the Midwest.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that the H5 bird flu, the variety causing the outbreak, has not been detected in humans and currently poses a low threat to the public.

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, who spent last week meeting with farmers, producer groups and government officials in Iowa and Wisconsin, tells NPR's Linda Wertheimer that the outbreak poses no health risk for consumers — but is devastating for producers, and may impact food prices

http://www.npr.org/2.....-to-humans

I was debating getting turkeys this year due to all the construction, looks like I'm hitting up the farm store tomorrow 

Ohio cancelling bird shows

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — All poultry shows at the Ohio State Fair and county fairs across the state have been canceled this year because of the threat of a deadly bird flu virus, the state's agriculture department announced Tuesday.

The virus that has led to the deaths of more than 44 million chickens and turkeys in the Midwest hasn't been found so far in Ohio, but state officials said banning all poultry shows is a needed step to protect Ohio's $2.3 billion poultry industry.

The order applies to poultry auctions, swap meets and all other gatherings of birds for show or sale as well as fairs.

"This was a difficult decision because it means young people can't show their birds at fairs, but it's in the best interest of an industry that literally thousands of Ohio families and businesses depend on and which provides billions of dollars to our state's economy," Ohio Agriculture Director David Daniels said in a statement.

Several other states already have canceled poultry shows at fairs this summer, including Indiana, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Michigan.

Iowa, the nation's leading egg producer, has lost more than a third of its egg-laying chickens, causing prices to soar.

Scientists believe migratory waterfowl carry and help spread the H5N2 avian influenza virus. Wild ducks and geese don't become sick from it but can spread it through their droppings. It's thought that the virus can get into poultry barns on workers' shoes or clothing, or perhaps on contaminated dust.

Health officials say humans are not at risk of getting this strain of bird flu.

http://bigstory.ap.o.....u-outbreak