Avian flu has also led zoos in the United States to temporarily close bird shows and keep birds out of the public eye. At zoos from Colorado to Maryland, species ranging from ostriches to penguins have been moved indoors. The virus poses a low risk to humans, but the USDA has estimated that nearly 24 million poultry birds, mostly chickens and turkeys, have died from the flu since February, when a flock of turkeys in Indiana were confirmed to have the virus. Avian influenza has been reported in at least 24 states. Last seen in the US in 2015, bird flu is transmitted through wild migratory birds, which run from March to May. Wild birds, including waterfowl such as ducks and geese, tend not to get sick when infected. Breeding chickens and turkeys are very sensitive. As a result, poultry meat and eggs are on closer supply. In Iowa, the state that produces the most eggs, more than 11 million of the 56 million laying hens have died. “As the [wild bird] “Immigration patterns continue, there is a risk that diseases will continue to enter our domestic population,” Chloe Carson, Iowa’s agriculture director of communications, told CNN. Egg prices have risen. The average price of a dozen eggs reached $ 2.60, compared to about $ 1.40 in the same period last year, according to the USDA. Agriculture Minister Tom Vilsack told reporters on Tuesday that because poultry facilities had tightened containment measures following the last outbreak of bird flu in 2015, they were better equipped to prevent the virus from spreading. “The nature of the outbreaks, the size of the operations affected, the number of states engaged in backyard activities as opposed to commercial enterprises, strongly suggest that when all this is said and done, it will be significantly less than what we lived in 2014-15 “, said Vilsack. ZOLOGIST INFORMATION: Avian flu cases have been confirmed throughout the United States, including Maryland. This strain of the disease is highly contagious and deadly to birds. As a precautionary measure, most bird species will be out of danger until the threat subsides: pic.twitter.com/rCgFeIkPBM – Maryland Zoo (@marylandzoo) March 22, 2022 The zoos have also taken precautionary measures. In a statement, the Maryland Zoo said: “We have moved birds that are more likely to come into contact with migratory waterfowl. “These birds have been transported indoors. “Because the disease can be detected in shoes, the zoo cages are closed and contact with birds indoors is limited to a small number of staff.” While previous avian influenza viruses have affected humans, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has noted that the current virus has so far posed a low risk to the health of the general public. “Some people may have exposure to work-related or recreational birds that puts them at higher risk for infection,” the CDC said. “The CDC is closely monitoring this situation and is taking regular preparedness and prevention measures in the event that this virus changes to pose a greater risk to human health.”
