IN officials: No new bird flu infections reported

A bird flu virus that’s a different strain than the one that ravaged turkey and chicken farms in the Midwest last summer has been found at a southern in turkey farm, federal officials said Friday, cautioning that a quick response could stem any larger outbreak. Water is usually used to drown the birds; but with wind chills in the single digits, it has been freezing. 2016, photo, workers wearing contamination suits…

About 10 farms in IN have been affected with the bird flu.

In its statement today, the CDC said no human H7N8 cases have ever been reported in the world, but H7 infections in the past have caused a wide range of symptoms, from just conjunctivitis to severe respiratory illness. But he thinks it was spread from a wild bird.

All 60,000 turkeys at the first farm where the bird flu was detected have been euthanized.

The USDA pays farmers for the birds that must be euthanized, but not for any that died prior to the government’s arrival.

Officials haven’t reported any new farms testing positive for the strain, saying farmers are following protocol to combat the disease.

Past animal viruses usually spread in spring, and it’s unclear why the H7N8 strain has taken hold in January. It isn’t clear whether the mild winter weather played a role, either.

“Our association does feel that the industry is better equipped to handle the outbreak this time, ” said Gwen Venable, vice-president of communications at the US Poultry & Egg Association. Importers also cut back on trade in the $5.7 billion poultry and egg export market, and some have already limited shipments because of this new outbreak. Everyone hopes this outbreak doesn’t turn into what happened in 2015.

“I can’t say it’s our worst nightmare, but it’s pretty close to it”, she said, noting there is a quarantine in place for commercial poultry farms and backyard flocks within a almost 6-mile radius.

Stay on topic – This helps keep the thread focused on the discussion at hand.

Be Civil – It’s OK to have a difference in opinion but there’s no need to be a jerk. “We’ll see how the coming days unfold”.