HPAI (Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza) H5N2 ....something you might want to keep track of

Avian Influenza has been on the radar for quite a while as it has shown transmission from birds to humans and there have been minor outbreaks in several countries in Asia. Influenza virus is typically classified by the 2 major surface antigens H and N . There is a strain currently causing a major problem in the US bird and poultry population that may lead to problems at your grocery store. While infections in people make the news ,infections in chickens and turkeys usually dont. Here is an update on the current outbreak in the US that you should follow.
Heres a link to some data on the latest outbreak http://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/disease_information/avian_influenza/


" 7 additional cases of the highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza virus have been confirmed by the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Health Inspection Service (APHIS).  Outbreaks occurred in Iowa at turkey farms in Hamilton County (19,600 birds) and Sac County (42,200 birds).  In Minnesota, outbreaks were reported at turkeys farms in Brown County (39,000 birds), Kandiyohi County (4,000 birds), and Renville County (4,800 birds) and a chicken farm in Renville County (15,000 birds).  Nebraska reported an outbreak in a backyard flock in Dixon County.  To prevent further spread of the disease, all affected premises have been quarantined, and the surviving birds culled. Premises in four counties in Arizona were placed under quarantine Friday (6/12/15) because they had received chicken, quail or pheasant birds or eggs from a farm in Iowa in the week before H5N2 was detected. The Iowa farm is suspected to have shipped similar samples to other parts of the country. Follow up investigation, including laboratory testing, is being conducted."




 While this sounds like a lot of birds (and it is) its still a small percentage of the overall commercial bird population. It still points out that this could be devastating to our domestic poultry production and make your fried chicken dinner more costly than you are used to . Lets hope we can get a handle on its spread or we may be even more thankful for that Turkey this Thanksgiving.

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