More than 64,000 turkeys have had to be culled in Merced County following an outbreak of avian flu in California, showing the devastating effects that these highly communicable viruses can have on the poultry industry. The dairy industry has also been hit as the virus affects cows and workers, showing that there are side-effects spreading further than just the pork sector.
Devastating Poultry Losses
A bird flu outbreak has led to the culling of 64,800 turkeys at a commercial poultry operation in Merced County, California. The large-scale cull comes after the HPAI virus was detected at the plant on 18 September.
Having proven to be highly contagious and deadly this virus has presented a devastating blow for the poultry industry since the beginning of the outbreak in 2022. Nationwide, the virus has resulted in over 92 million poultry and wild birds being killed for depopulation since efforts were launched to stamp it out, according to the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Federal officials confirm the virus is present in MER, release depopulation plan to keep it from getting to other birds Techniques used for culling include water-based foam and carbon dioxide, which shows the serious nature of these actions in maintaining the population of poultry.
Dairy Industry Spillover
And now the avian flu outbreak has not only hammered the poultry industry but spread to bigger mammals — a nation’s dairy cows and an itty-bitty fraction of dairy workers.
The USDA has said the virus has sickened cows on 231 dairy herds in 14 states as of Monday, including California, which is the country’s top milk-producing state. California now has 34 infected dairy herds, up from just three a few weeks ago.
The normal milk production of the infected dairy cows is being replaced by a decreased appetite and lethargy. The good news: all of the animals are expected to be healthy again after being in quarantine care for a few weeks. Infected cows have tested positive in two dairy farms and rest placed under quarantine to prevent further spread of the virus.
The change in species of avian flu is a reality check for this pandemic. This is an extremely worrying situation and the nation’s food supply, particularly in terms of dairy products, could be badly affected if urgent action isn’t taken to get a hold on this crisis.
Conclusion
Merced County, California — The recent avian flu outbreak has had a devastating impact on the poultry industry in Merced, California with thousands of turkeys culled to prevent the spread of the highly contagious virus. The crisis has now reached dairy farms and workers, showing the devastating consequences of this outbreak. Strategic, measured steps along with sustained vigilance are a must to ensure that the crisis does not extend so as to cripple our food supply and in turn, agriculture.
