The state of Iowa announced on Tuesday that over 4 million chickens will need to be euthanized following the detection of a case of highly pathogenic bird flu at a major egg farm.
In Sioux County, Iowa, a farm has discovered the presence of the disease, leading to the necessary action of euthanizing 4.2 million chickens. This outbreak adds to the ongoing struggle against the disease, as it has now started affecting dairy cattle as well. Another case was reported last week at an egg farm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, resulting in the unfortunate slaughter of almost 1.4 million chickens.
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According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a staggering 92.34 million birds have lost their lives since the outbreak commenced in 2022.
Bird flu has become a prevalent issue among poultry, and now its transmission to cattle is causing even more concern. In May, a second dairy farmworker was diagnosed with bird flu, and the virus was found in both beef and milk. This alarming development has been observed on dairy cattle farms in nine different states.
Health and agriculture officials assure the public that the risk remains low. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the meat from a single sickened dairy cow was promptly removed from the nation’s food supply, ensuring the safety and integrity of the beef that is available for consumption.
Workers who have been exposed to infected animals are at a greater risk of contracting the disease. In the United States, only three human cases have been confirmed so far. These cases involved two dairy workers and one individual who was working to slaughter infected birds on a poultry farm.
