Share

More US poultry flocks infected with bird flu

Chicago - The number of US poultry flocks infected with a deadly strain of bird flu rose on Tuesday as Iowa identified its first case and Minnesota confirmed eight more cases, according to the US Department of Agriculture.

Iowa became the 12th state this year to find poultry infected with the H5N2 flu, which can kill nearly an entire flock within 48 hours.

Twenty-two commercial turkey flocks in Minnesota, the leading US turkey-producing state, have been infected with the H5N2 flu in about six weeks. That accounts for more than half of the 43 flocks nationwide that have been infected since the beginning of the year, according to Agriculture Department data.

READ: H7 bird flu fears in Hong Kong

Facilities with newly confirmed infections will be quarantined and birds there will be culled, according to the department.

Prior to Minnesota's eight new cases, poultry producers in the state had lost about 900 000 turkeys worth $15.7m due to deaths from bird flu and culling to prevent the spread of the disease, the Minnesota Turkey Growers Association said. Farmers in Minnesota raise about 46 million turkeys a year, according to the association.

Bird flu infections have prompted major overseas buyers, including China and Mexico, to restrict imports of US poultry and eggs in the $5.7bn export market.

READ: Myanmar culls chickens to contain H5N1 outbreak

Birds grown for major poultry producers including privately held Butterball LLC, Cargill and a subsidiary of Hormel Foods have been killed by the virus this year.

Migratory ducks are believed to be spreading the virus as they travel to northern states after spending the winter farther south, veterinarians have said.

No human cases of bird flu have been reported.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Rand - Dollar
18.90
+0.2%
Rand - Pound
23.85
+0.2%
Rand - Euro
20.38
+0.3%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.31
+0.2%
Rand - Yen
0.12
+0.2%
Platinum
908.05
0.0%
Palladium
1,014.94
0.0%
Gold
2,232.75
-0.0%
Silver
24.95
-0.1%
Brent Crude
87.00
+1.8%
Top 40
68,346
0.0%
All Share
74,536
0.0%
Resource 10
57,251
0.0%
Industrial 25
103,936
0.0%
Financial 15
16,502
0.0%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Company Snapshot
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE
Government tenders

Find public sector tender opportunities in South Africa here.

Government tenders
This portal provides access to information on all tenders made by all public sector organisations in all spheres of government.
Browse tenders