In an updated report on the worst-ever bird flu epidemic to infect U.S. poultry flocks, the government says “comprehensive and stringent biosecurity practices remain crucial to reducing the risk of HPAI [highly pathogenic avian influenza] infection.” Like an initial report in June, the update by the USDA says there is not enough evidence to say specifically how the epidemic spread. Authorities blame migratory birds for introducing the virus and say environmental and human factors played a role in its spread.
On turkey and chicken farms, sharing of equipment and human traffic between farms seemed to increase the risk of infection, said the USDA. “We are also collaborating with affected industries and states to implement more stringent biosecurity procedures while continuing to work on identifying and mitigating other possible disease pathways in poultry farms nationwide.” The report said farms can decrease their risk of bird flu by verifying that biosecurity procedures are being followed.
Poultry industry officials, state veterinarians and the USDA open a two-day conference in Des Moines today designed to help prepare for a potential new wave of avian influenza when the fall migration sends wild birds southward across the United States.
More than 48 million fowl were lost on commercial poultry farms due to the virus, with Iowa, the No. 1 egg state, hit the hardest. The Associated Press said one turkey grower in Iowa has been cleared to re-stock his farm and that 37 of the 107 affected turkey farms in Minnesota have similar clearance.