HEALTH Latest Updates on Avian H5N2 bird flu in US

[Suzieq]

Where it stands: The avian flu outbreak in Minnesota

Last update: May 29, 2015 | Editor's note: This story was first published on April 8, 2015. We will continue to update it as the outbreak spreads.

An outbreak of avian flu sweeping through the western half of the United States has hit Minnesota's $800 million-plus turkey industry especially hard: About 4.7 million birds have died from the disease or were killed to prevent the virus from spreading, mostly in the southwestern quadrant of the state.

• Full coverage: Minnesota and the bird flu outbreak

Minnesota chicken producers haven't escaped the disease untouched, either: More than 3.5 million commercial chickens have died because of it. A relative handful of birds in a backyard mixed-poultry flock were also hit.

More than 8.3 million birds in Minnesota's commercial and domestic poultry flocks have died during the 2015 avian influenza outbreak — killed by the flu itself or euthanized to prevent the spread of the disease.

The virus is so virulent that thousands of birds can die in a few days.

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Avian flu in Minnesota: Bird deaths by county

The state has verified 102 outbreaks among chicken, turkey and mixed-poultry flocks in 23 counties, many of which lie in the heart of Minnesota's turkey-producing country. (See Map data below via Minnesota Board of Animal Health)

The Minnesota Board of Animal Health and the U.S. Department of Agriculture are tracking cases of avian flu across the state. When an outbreak is confirmed, the agencies note the size of each farm and the county in which it's located. Affected farms are not identified by name.

Throughout the outbreak, officials have emphasized that the food system is safe. Still, about four dozen countries have banned Minnesota poultry, including the entire European Union and most of Central America, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

So far, no human cases have been reported in the United States or elsewhere, according to the USDA. Although the risk of transmission to humans is low, workers in the state who have contact with the infected flocks will be monitored for the illness.

*(Fair Use)
http://www.mprnews.org/story/2015/04/08/avian-flu-running-tally

 

[Suzieq]

Avian influenza epidemic spurs nationwide rise in egg prices
Saturday, May 30th, 2015 08:07 EDT

*Consumers nationwide are beginning to see price increases because of the growing avian influenza epidemic, which has caused millions of chickens, turkeys and other birds to die or be euthanized.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has reported three deadly flu strains in commercial and backyard poultry flocks totaling more than 43 million birds in 15 states since mid-December. In Iowa alone, the outbreak at commercial farms has led to the loss of nearly 30 million chickens, or nearly 10% of the nation's egg-laying hens.

It's affecting our market because our market's national. The initial price effect will be where the disease is happening, but eggs move all across the country. - Daniel Sumner, director of the UC Agricultural Issues Center

"This is a devastation unlike any other in the history of our industry," said Chad Gregory, chief executive of United Egg Producers, a trade group that represents many of the farms that raise egg-laying hens.

Effects of the disease's rapid spread in recent weeks are just starting to show up at the supermarket, primarily in the egg case.

On Friday, the average wholesale price of a dozen large eggs from the hard-hit Midwest was $2.62, a record high, according to estimates from Urner Barry, a food commodity market research firm that compiles daily egg price reports.

The price has risen 120% from the average of $1.19 a dozen on April 22, when the disease kicked into high gear.

What's more, many of the hens affected by the avian flu produce eggs that are then sold in liquid form to restaurants or manufacturers of products such as ice cream, bread and salad dressing, said Rick Brown, egg reporter for Urner Barry.

With liquid egg costs up about 200% in the last month, consumers could see price increases soon in food products with a clearly visible egg, such as frozen sausage and egg sandwiches, he said.

"The loss of birds has tightened the market across the board," Brown said.

California's poultry business has seen little infestation. The virus was detected in a single chicken flock in Kings County and a turkey flock in Stanislaus County, for a total of 247,300 birds affected, USDA data show.

But California is heavily dependent on out-of-state egg producers, and as supply dwindles, prices have increased.

"It's affecting our market because our market's national," said Daniel Sumner, director of the UC Agricultural Issues Center. "The initial price effect will be where the disease is happening, but eggs move all across the country."

The average wholesale price of a dozen large eggs in California was $3.03 on Friday, according to Urner Barry. That's 71% higher than the average of $1.77 a dozen on April 22.

California consumers pay more for eggs than shoppers in other states because voters decreed that, as of Jan. 1, eggs sold in California had to come from chickens that could fully extend their wings and move freely in their cages.

The cost of overhauling henhouses or reducing flock sizes has contributed to higher egg prices in California, experts say. And that price gap could get worse.

The strict animal welfare law leaves the state's egg market vulnerable to "disruptions," Sumner said. Out-of-state suppliers must abide by the henhouse regulations, which narrows the list of those who can sell eggs within the state.

With the tighter supply of eggs, farms that once supplied California can now take their eggs elsewhere and for better value because they don't need to pay transportation costs from the Midwest, the nation's biggest egg-producing region, Brown said.

"The prices outside of California have gotten so high that now they are very competitive with California," he said. "The prices have risen across the board."

At a Ralphs supermarket west of downtown Los Angeles, shopper Xochitl Vazquez said she's already noticed higher egg prices.

The 33-year-old West Adams resident said she didn't mind the increase so far, but said she might change her eating habits if prices went higher. Her family eats eggs twice a week.

"I would purchase less if it came to the point that the price is too exaggerated," Vazquez said.

The effect of the bird flu outbreak will be seen for many months, Gregory said.

After farms dispose of birds from infected flocks and disinfect their farms, it can take six months before the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service gives them the go-ahead to repopulate. It can take another year or longer to get the farm fully operational.

"It's hard to predict who can make it and who can't," Gregory said. "The reality is not all of them will be able to."

*(Fair Use)
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-egg-prices-20150530-story.html

 

[Suzieq]

Avian flu toll now counts 102 farms in Minnesota
By Tribune News on May 29, 2015 at 11:23 p.m.

*ST. PAUL — The number of farms in Minnesota affected by the highly pathogenic avian influenza has now reached 102, with four presumptive positive flocks reported on Friday.

The state Board of Animal Health reported that the four presumptive positive flocks were identified on farms in Blue Earth, Renville, Brown and Kandiyohi counties. All involved commercial turkeys.

There are now 38 farms in Kandiyohi County affected. The Renville County flock reported Friday is the sixth affected in the county.

The size of the affected flocks in Blue Earth, Renville and Brown reported Friday were not known. The Kandiyohi County flock consisted of 7,000 birds.

Avian influenza has now affected farms in 23 counties in Minnesota since the outbreak began in early March.

At this point, birds on 87 of the affected 104 farms have been euthanized, according to the Board of Animal Health.

*(Fair Use)
http://www.wctrib.com/news/region/3756151-avian-flu-toll-now-counts-102-farms-minnesota

 

[Suzieq]

Latest Avian / Bird Flu News
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/bird-flu/bird-flu-news.php?country=us

Friday, May 29, 2015
United States - Bird Flu News Four More US Avian Flu Outbreaks Confirmed

*US - Four more outbreaks of H5N2 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) have been confirmed by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).
May 29 2015

The new outbreaks bring the total birds affected to 43,292,373, and the total number of detections reported since December 2014 to 191.

The latest outbreaks are:

Iowa, Adair county - 974,500 commercial chickens;
Minnesota, Brown county - 46,800 commercial turkeys;
Minnesota, Renville county - 95,300 commercial turkeys;
Iowa, Webster county - commercial chickens, number pending.

This brings the number of confirmed detections in Iowa to 63, affecting 28,118,900 birds.

Minnesota has reached 87 detections, affecting 7,912,660.

*(Fair Use)
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/poultrynews/35157/four-more-us-avian-flu-outbreaks-confirmed/

 

[rafter]

I had been paying $1.78 for jumbo eggs at the local grocery store. Wednesday they were $3.99. Regular eggs were $2.99.

I went to Aldi's and their eggs were still $1.49.......bought 6 doz.

 

[Suzieq]

Posted: Jun 08, 2015 1:06 PM CST
Updated: Jun 08, 2015 1:40 PM CST
Posted By Brianna Owczarzak, Managing Web Editor

LANSING, MI (WNEM) -

Three goslings in the Detroit area have tested positive for bird flu and are the first confirmed cases of highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza in the state.

The free-ranging Canada Geese goslings were collected last week in Macomb County's Sterling Heights.

Avian influenza also can infect other free-ranging and domestic poultry such as chickens, turkeys and quail. Infected birds may show difficulty walking, lack of appetite and a drop in egg production.

The virus has been found in 20 other states. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says Midwest chicken and turkey producers have lost nearly 47 million birds on over 200 farms since the region's first case of H5N2 avian influenza was confirmed on a Minnesota turkey farm in early March.

Read more: http://www.wnem.com/story/29266762/state-officials-confirm-michigans-first-cases-of-bird-flu

 

[Suzieq]

United States - Bird Flu News Egg rationing in America has officially begun

In recent days, an ominous sign has appeared throughout Texas. "Eggs [are] not for commercial sale," read warnings, printed on traditional 8 1/2-by-11-inch pieces of white paper and posted at H-E-B grocery stores across Texas. "The purchase of eggs is limited to 3 cartons of eggs per customer."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...st-grocer-in-the-texas-is-now-rationing-eggs/

 

[Suzieq]

Five More Confirmed US Bird Flu Outbreaks
US - There have been five new outbreaks of H5N2 highly pathogenic avian influenza confirmed in the US.

*This brings the total number of detections of the disease to 217, affecting 46,741,393 birds.

The latest outbreaks to be confirmed by the US Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Inspection Service (APHIS) are:

Nebraska, Dixon county - backyard mixed poultry, number pending;
Iowa, Hamilton county - 19,600 commercial turkeys;
Minnesota, Renville county - 24,800 commercial turkeys;
Minnesota, Renville county - 415,000 commercial chickens;
Iowa, Sac county - 42,200 commercial turkeys.

This is only the fourth outbreak to be confirmed in Nebraska, where it has affected 3,794,100 birds.

In Iowa, there have now been 73 detections and 30,482,300 birds affected, whereas in Minnesota there have been 101 detections and 8,887,150 birds affected.

APHIS has recently released additional information about the restocking and environmental sampling procedures for sites that have had confirmed cases of avian influenza.

Before any restocking of a premise would be allowed, APHIS and state officials must agree that the virus has been completely removed from a premise.

USDA no longer requires any virus isolation testing (VI) of negative RT-PCR samples. Previously, APHIS required that 10 percent of the environmental sample tests that returned a negative result also undergo VI testing. This change helps ensure that producers can return to normal operations more quickly.

In addition, there cannot have been an HPAI detection in commercial poultry within a 10km radius of the premises or a detection in backyard poultry within a 3km radius of the premises in the preceding 21 days.

Further, the premises must meet the minimum time period required for the method of disposal and the owner must have met the requirements outlined in the USDA Flock Plan and Cooperative Compliance Agreement, as well as the State Quarantine Notice or Hold Order.

*(Fair Use)
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/poultrynews/35216/five-more-confirmed-us-bird-flu-outbreaks/