Nebraska agriculture officers say one other 1.8 million chickens should be killed after chook flu was discovered on a farm within the newest signal that the outbreak that has already prompted the slaughter of greater than 50 million birds nationwide continues to unfold.
The Nebraska Division of Agriculture mentioned Saturday that the state's thirteenth case of chook flu was discovered on an egg-laying farm in northeast Nebraska's Dixon County, about 120 miles north of Omaha, Nebraska.
Similar to on different farms the place chook flu has been discovered this yr, all of the chickens on the Nebraska farm will likely be killed to restrict the unfold of the illness. The U.S. Division of Agriculture says greater than 52.3 million birds in 46 states — largely chickens and turkeys on industrial farms — have been slaughtered as a part of this yr's outbreak.
Nebraska is second solely to Iowa's 15.5 million birds killed with 6.8 million birds now affected at 13 farms.
In most previous chook flu outbreaks the virus largely died off throughout the summer time, however this yr's model discovered a approach to linger and began to make a resurgence this fall with greater than 6 million birds killed in September.
The virus is primarily unfold by wild birds as they migrate throughout the nation. Wild birds can typically carry the illness with out displaying signs. The virus spreads via droppings or the nasal discharge of an contaminated chook, which may contaminate mud and soil.
Business farms have taken quite a few steps to stop the virus from infecting their flocks, together with requiring staff to alter garments earlier than getting into barns and sanitizing vehicles as they enter the farm, however the illness may be troublesome to regulate. Zoos have additionally taken precautions and closed some displays to guard their birds.
Officers say there may be little threat to human well being from the virus as a result of human circumstances are extraordinarily uncommon and the contaminated birds aren't allowed to enter the nation's meals provide. Plus, any viruses will likely be killed by correctly cooking poultry to 165 levels Fahrenheit.
However the chook flu outbreak has contributed to the rising costs of hen and turkey together with the hovering value of feed and gasoline.