High Path Avian Influenza to keep an eye on

[timo2]

Avian Flu Diary: APHIS: Wisconsin Reports HPAI H5N2 In Commercial Chickens
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[sanfanciscotreat]

AI is showing up in commercial flocks further north as wild birds migrate north for the summer. It usually dies out with hot weather arriving. There has been a lot of research showing there is no transmission to humans through meat. Human cases did occur in SE Asia in persons who lived in very close contact with high path AI. Especially in areas where flocks were kept under the house and there was a lot of air circulation up through the loose floor into the residential area.

[FireBug]

And yet, my fear meter still reads 'Normal'

[timo2]

16 States have Bird Flu H5N2. Good thing people are not getting this. But it is still a big deal for the economy. It turns out that if our exports are reduced by other nations closing their markets, that makes prices domestically cheaper. However, most exports seem to be dark meat.

Bird flu has wiped out 5 percent of South Dakota turkey processor's birds; not hurting exports | Fox Business
National Guard called upon to help fight H5N2 in Wisconsin
Bird flu confirmed at Iowa farm; 5.3M chickens to be destroyed - CBS News



http://afludiary.blogspot.com/2015/04/aphis-iowa-becomes-16th-state-to-report.html

[brewer12345]

Perhaps we will all be eating squirrel instead of poultry...


Any idea if this is decimating wild bird populations as well?

[timo2]

Quote:

Originally Posted by brewer12345 Perhaps we will all be eating squirrel instead of poultry... Any idea if this is decimating wild bird populations as well?

Wild birds are spreading it world wide. But I have not looked up if anyone is able to count the number of wild birds affected.

However, DW wants to know if the euthanized birds are ending up in dog food. I thought they went to the land fill, but That's want I'm going to start looking up.

[brewer12345]

Quote:

Originally Posted by timo2 Wild birds are spreading it world wide. But I have not looked up if anyone is able to count the number of wild birds affected. However, DW wants to know if the euthanized birds are ending up in dog food. I thought they went to the land fill, but That's want I'm going to start looking up.

And if they are thoroughly cooked, are they safe to eat?

[timo2]

Quote:

Originally Posted by brewer12345 And if they are thoroughly cooked, are they safe to eat?

Yes they are safe to eat if properly cooked, which is why DW wanted to know about the dog food. But I found this document http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/inforesources/pubs/flu.pdf that relates that the euthanized birds are probably composted on site rather than dragging the potentially infected birds around the countryside.

[samclem]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunset Its why I trust my insurance company has my back, and I take all their minimum wage telephone workers advice as gospel. Darn ole' gov't stickin their noses in a worker's business.

Luckily, we can count on the government to be better than those evil corporate thieves. The accuracy and timeliness of official IRS taxpayer assistance is legendary--sometimes over half their answers are correct. And when I go to the DMV . . .well, the mind boggles at the speed and efficiency.

[timo2]

"Federal officials said Wednesday they're taking steps to create a human vaccine for the bird flu virus that's slammed the Midwest poultry industry, though they still consider the danger to be low and the food supply not at risk."

CDC eyeing bird flu vaccine for humans, though risk is low - York Dispatch

[brewer12345]

Quote:

Originally Posted by timo2 "Federal officials said Wednesday they're taking steps to create a human vaccine for the bird flu virus that's slammed the Midwest poultry industry, though they still consider the danger to be low and the food supply not at risk." CDC eyeing bird flu vaccine for humans, though risk is low - York Dispatch

A prudent step, but a tad suspicious.

[timo2]

How Restaurants Are Dealing With the National Egg Shortage - Eater

from the article: "Restaurants are turning to a variety of strategies to deal with the massive egg shortage that has hit the country. According to the Los Angeles Times, an incredible number of egg-producing chickens have died since December thanks to three deadly strains of avian influenza. Across the nation, nearly 43 million birds in 15 states either died or got so sick they had to be euthanized."