The bird flu outbreak has necessitated the culling of over 1.3 million chickens at an Ohio egg farm, marking a significant impact on the poultry industry. The U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed that the entire flock of 1.35 million chickens in Union County, Ohio, is being slaughtered following the detection of the virus.
According to AP, this action is part of a broader effort to contain the highly contagious bird flu, which has been less severe this year compared to its onset in early 2022.
Despite the decrease in cases, the virus has led to the culling of 8.1 million birds in 2023, with 5.8 million of these occurring in the current month. Large egg farms have been particularly affected, including a 1.2 million bird cull at an Iowa farm and 940,000 chickens at a Minnesota farm.
Egg farms, often housing millions of birds, are more susceptible to large-scale outbreaks. Iowa, the leading egg producer in the U.S., has seen 17.3 million birds culled, the highest in the nation. Ohio, another top egg producer, has had 5.1 million birds culled due to the flu.
Recent cases have also emerged in Minnesota, Maryland, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Georgia, and California, with Maryland experiencing a significant cull of 198,200 birds.
In 2022, the bird flu led to the culling of nearly 58 million birds. The virus, spread by wild birds through droppings and nasal discharges, poses a minimal health threat to humans. Infected birds are kept out of the food supply, and cooking poultry and eggs to 165 degrees Fahrenheit (73.89 degrees Celsius) effectively kills any viruses.
Farmers are intensifying biosecurity measures, including mandatory worker sanitation and equipment sterilization, to prevent flock infections. However, controlling the virus remains challenging, especially along migratory bird pathways.
