Avian flu outbreak wipes out 50.54 mln U.S. birds, a record

Data from the US Department of Agriculture showed today, Thursday, that bird flu has killed 50.54 million birds in the United States this year, making it the deadliest disease in history in the country.

Reuters said that the death of chickens, turkeys and other birds represents the worst animal health disaster in the United States to date, surpassing the previous record of 50.5 million birds that died in the bird flu outbreak in 2015.

Birds often die after becoming infected. Entire flocks, which could feed on a million birds on laying hens farms, are also being culled to control the spread of the disease after the birds tested positive.

Losses in poultry flocks have sent egg and turkey prices to record levels, exacerbating economic pain for consumers facing hyperinflation, and making Thursday’s Thanksgiving celebrations more expensive in the United States. Europe and Britain are also experiencing their worst bird flu crises, and some British supermarkets have rationed customers’ egg purchases after the outbreak disrupted supplies.

The US Department of Agriculture data showed that the outbreak in the United States, which began in February, affected poultry and non-domesticated fowl flocks across 46 states. Wild birds such as ducks transmit the virus, known as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), through their feces, feathers, or direct contact with poultry.

“Wild birds continue to spread HPAI across the country during their migration, so preventing contact between domestic flocks and wild birds is critical to protecting poultry in the United States,” said Rosemary Sifford, USDA chief veterinary officer.

Farmers have struggled to keep the disease and wild birds out of their pens after increased security and cleaning measures in the wake of the 2015 outbreak. The USDA told Reuters that in 2015, about 30% of cases were traced directly to wild birds, compared to 85% this year.

Government officials are studying infections on turkey farms, in particular, in hopes of developing new infection prevention recommendations. The USDA said turkey farms accounted for more than 70% of the commercial poultry farms affected in the outbreak.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said people should avoid unprotected contact birds that appear sick or dead, even though outbreaks pose a low risk to the general public.

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