Hundreds of Thousands of Birds Euthanized Due to Avian Flu

That strain led to the deaths of 48 million birds, mostly chickens and turkeys.

Meanwhile, the USA Poultry and Egg Export Council (USAPEEC) said there were key differences to this outbreak when compared to last year’s.

In Indiana, the USDA quickly deployed personnel and equipment to assist the state with culling birds and testing nearby flocks, said Bret Marsh, Indiana’s state veterinarian.

That 100 farms tested over 24 hours came back negative was a sign control measures appear to be working, said Denise Derrer, spokeswoman for the Indiana State Board of Animal Health.

Last year’s H5N2 outbreak cost the poultry industry $3.3 billion, Reuters reported.

South Korea has temporarily suspended poultry imports from the U.S. following a bird flu outbreak on a farm in Indiana.

A day later, however, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) said eight of those nine additional H7 detections were low-pathogenic H7N8 and that tests were ongoing on the ninth flock.

State and federal workers, low-level prison inmates and workers at the farms have been euthanizing more than 245,000 turkeys – plus the chickens – to prevent the virus’ spread.

“Producers have been discussing the new outbreak in a series of conference calls since they first became aware of the in case late yesterday”, John Brunnquell, Egg Innovations president, said in a statement.

There have been no reported human infections so far.

Minnesota declared a state of emergency after losing almost 10 million birds to the outbreak.

As with other avian flu viruses, the CDC recommends antiviral medication for symptomatic people.

Farmers also have strengthened cleaning and security practices in a bid to keep out the virus, with many requiring workers to change their shoes before entering barns and barring delivery trucks from getting too close to poultry houses. When properly prepared, poultry and eggs are safe to eat.