Half a Million Chickens to Be Destroyed in Bird Flu Outbreak

March 23, 2022

A industrial hen farm in Nebraska will destroy 570,000 broilers as a result of a case of extremely pathogenic avian influenza – higher generally known as hen flu – was found within the flock, the Nebraska Division of Agriculture reported.

Earlier this month, hen flu was found in a yard flock in Merrick County and in wild geese in Lincoln and Cedar and Douglas counties, the division stated in a information launch. The Lincoln wild goose case was the primary occasion of hen flu within the state since 2015.

“Having a second farm in Nebraska confirmed to have HPAI is unlucky, however not fully sudden,” NDA Director Steve Wellman stated within the launch. “NDA will use all of the sources at our disposal, in coordination with our federal companions to handle a fast response.”

The Division of Agriculture put the industrial farm in Butler County below quarantine after noting a bigger than regular variety of deaths. The division established a 6.2-mile management zone across the farm, which means poultry inside the zone can’t be moved with out state permission. 

The birds “might be humanely depopulated and disposed of in an authorized method,” the division stated.

“Signs of HPAI in poultry embody: a lower in water consumption; lack of vitality and urge for food; decreased egg manufacturing or soft-shelled, misshapen eggs; nasal discharge, coughing, sneezing; incoordination; and diarrhea. HPAI can even trigger sudden dying in birds even when they aren’t exhibiting some other signs. HPAI can survive for weeks in contaminated environments,” the Division of Agriculture stated. 

The Related Press stated greater than 13 million chickens and turkeys in at the very least eight states have been destroyed or might be quickly due to hen flu. The primary case this 12 months was present in a industrial turkey flock in Indiana.