In nine months, nationwide outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza have killed 50.12 million birds in domestic flocks, said USDA data on Wednesday. Losses from HPAI and the culling of infected flocks are now on par with the 2014-15 bird flu outbreak, which the USDA has described as the most significant animal disease event in U.S. history.
Some 7.4 million turkeys and 43 million pullets and egg-laying hens as well as a limited number of mixed poultry flocks died in outbreaks that began in December 2014 and lasted through mid-June 2015, according to a 2016 report from the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
Iowa, the No. 1 egg-producing state, accounts for nearly three of every 10 deaths in this year’s outbreaks, a total of 15.5 million birds. Bird flu was confirmed at an egg farm with 1.02 million hens in Wright County, 85 miles north of Des Moines, on Sunday. It was the second outbreak in a week at an egg farm in Wright County. The earlier outbreak, confirmed on Oct. 31, involved 1.1 million hens. Until then, Iowa had not seen a major outbreak since April.
HPAI can wipe out a flock quickly, so officials kill all the birds in an infected flock to limit the spread of the viral disease. The USDA has committed more than $336 million to indemnify commercial producers for losses of birds and eggs. It has also spent more than $113 million to kill and dispose of flocks and on activities to eliminate the virus.
The USDA has advised owners to keep wild birds away from their flocks and to practice biosecurity. Bird flu can be spread by infected migratory waterfowl and by their droppings.