American health experts worry that the methods used to dispose of culled animals will further spread the disease
REUTERS — The spread of avian flu among poultry and dairy farms has heightened health experts’ concerns that the process of killing and disposing of birds infected with the virus may pose a risk to humans and livestock. Recent instances of farms dumping carcasses in landfills and using methods to kill chickens that put workers […] Read moreTag Archives avian flu — page 2
U.S. dairy farms push back on avian flu measures
Government response to the outbreak in Michigan sparks COVID-era worry as farmers resist state-mandated efforts
MARTIN, Mich. (Reuters) — Some dairy farmers are resisting Michigan’s nation-leading efforts to stop the spread of avian flu for fear their incomes will suffer from added costs. The government’s restrictions, which include tracking who comes and goes from farms, are rekindling unwanted memories of COVID-19 in Martin and other small towns in central Michigan. […] Read more
Bird flu unlikely spread by air: study
Avian flu remains a worldwide concern heading into the heat of the Northern Hemisphere summer, although a recent study shows the strain hitting dairy herds in the United States is not easily transmitted through the air. The experiment led by researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison showed ferrets infected with a sample of the H5N1 […] Read more
Farm connections flagged in U.S. dairy bird flu spread
Shared equipment, workers may play roles in interstate spread
Glacier FarmMedia – There are “no smoking guns” to blame for bird flu spread in U.S. dairy cattle, but a number of farm practices may have collectively helped the virus move, according to an expert from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. A USDA survey of dairy farms found that, of participating farms in three states, […] Read more
Canadian milk tests for avian flu come up empty
Canadian Food Inspection Agency says continued negative results support view virus has not reached domestic herd
Glacier FarmMedia – There are no traces of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in domestic milk, as far as Canadian authorities can find. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says the latest testing, which put 600 retail milk samples under the microscope, has not found evidence of the virus. Testing was done in collaboration with the […] Read more
Bird flu spreads in North America, globally
REUTERS — The ongoing U.S. outbreak of avian flu in dairy cattle reached Minnesota last week as the state announced its first infected herd. More than 80 dairy herds have been infected with the virus across 11 states since late March, and three dairy workers have tested positive for the virus. The Minnesota Board of […] Read more
It’s prudent to prepare for another flu outbreak
As Canadians warily eye the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak in the U.S. dairy herd, one thing should be certain: watching and waiting isn’t enough. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has taken steps to keep the virus out of the country. It has required negative HPAI test results for lactating dairy cattle imported from […] Read more
U.S. funds virus prevention effort
WASHINGTON (Reuters) — The American government will provide nearly $200 million to fight the spread of avian flu among dairy cows in its latest bid to contain outbreaks that have fuelled concerns about human infections. The virus has been detected among dairy cattle in nine states since late March. Scientists have said they believe the […] Read more
Pork market strong despite weak U.S. futures
Glacier FarmMedia – Fears over avian flu spreading to pigs in the United States and greater hog slaughter are causing lean hog prices at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange to fall to three-month lows, according to a livestock economist. “There are unknowns if (avian flu) would be found in U.S. meat. I think that did scare […] Read more
Poultry sector begins to debate avian flu vaccine
Resistance to vaccinating commercial poultry is abating, but attempting such an endeavour could prove complicated
MEDICINE HAT — After a relatively calm spring, avian influenza has stormed back into a problem. This fall has seen the highly pathogenic virus hit southern British Columbia’s Fraser Valley hard with more than 50 farms affected, mostly commercial operations. Outside of adhering to the latest biosecurity measures, there is no solution in sight over […] Read more
