Officials have confirmed that nearly 1 million chickens on a Minnesota egg farm will be culled to prevent the spread of highly contagious bird flu. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported that the virus was found at a farm in Wright County, Minnesota, along with smaller outbreaks in South Dakota and Iowa. Whenever the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus is detected on a farm, the entire flock is culled to prevent further spread.
In addition to the Minnesota case, the USDA announced that around 26,800 turkeys will be culled on a farm in McPherson County, South Dakota, and nearly 17,000 birds will be slaughtered on two farms in Iowa’s Clay County.
The egg and poultry industry has been grappling with a bird flu outbreak since last year, with nearly 58 million birds, primarily chickens and turkeys, culled in 2022. This resulted in significantly higher egg and turkey prices. The Minnesota farm is the first egg-laying operation where bird flu has been found this year.
While the toll in 2023 has been lower than in 2022, efforts have been redoubled to prevent contact between birds and wild migratory waterfowl. After the culling of 940,000 chickens on the Minnesota farm, the total number of birds culled this year will be approximately 3.4 million.
Minnesota has lost over 5.5 million birds since the outbreak began, while Iowa, home to numerous large egg farms, has been the hardest-hit with more than 16 million birds culled. Most cases have been reported at turkey farms in the region. The virus is easily spread, primarily through contact with the droppings of wild birds.
Egg and poultry farmers have implemented stringent measures to prevent the virus’s spread, such as requiring workers to change clothes, sanitize boots, and limit tool sharing between barns, as well as sealing facilities to prevent wildlife intrusion.
Officials emphasize that bird flu doesn’t pose a threat to food safety, as birds on affected farms are culled before entering the food supply chain. Proper cooking of poultry and eggs to 165 degrees Fahrenheit (73.89 degrees Celsius) effectively eliminates any viruses. Human infections are rare and typically occur in individuals with prolonged exposure to sick birds.
