Results for: Avian Flu

The Kerala district administration has confirmed an avian flu (H5N1) outbreak at the government-run regional poultry farm in Manarcad. Authorities have initiated measures to contain the outbreak, including euthanizing and cremating all domesticated and pet birds within a one-kilometer radius of the farm. Disinfection and surveillance measures have been implemented in the affected area, and a ban on the sale and import of poultry products has been imposed in the Kottayam district. The National Institute of High-Security Animal Diseases lab in Bhopal confirmed the H5N1 outbreak after testing samples from chickens that had died in large numbers at the farm.

Multiple cases of bird flu have been reported in a state-run poultry farm in Ranchi, prompting the Jharkhand government to sound an alert. Around 4,000 birds, including chickens, have been culled and hundreds of eggs destroyed to contain the outbreak.

In response to the recent detection of H5N1 avian flu fragments in the U.S. milk supply, the USDA has implemented a new order requiring all lactating dairy cows that are moved between states to undergo testing for the virus. This measure aims to enhance surveillance efforts and prevent the potential spread of H5N1 through the dairy industry.

The feeding of poultry litter, which contains manure, feathers, and other waste materials, to livestock has become a common practice but raises concerns about disease transmission. The recent outbreak of avian flu in dairy cows across the Midwest has prompted scrutiny of this practice, as the source of infection remains unclear. Poultry litter has been linked to previous disease outbreaks, including botulism. However, the federal government and many states do not regulate the use of poultry litter in animal feed, and regulations vary widely. Only California prohibits feeding poultry litter to lactating dairy cows. Experts urge the use of common sense and recommend that poultry litter not be fed to dairy or beef cattle within 21 days of slaughter to minimize the risk of contamination.

Epidemiologists are investigating the possible link between the recent avian flu outbreaks in dairy cows and the use of poultry litter in animal feed. Poultry litter, which is a mixture of manure, feathers, and other materials, can contain disease-causing bacteria and viruses, including the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of avian flu. Although the practice of feeding poultry litter to cattle is legal in many states, it raises concerns about the potential for disease transmission and the safety of the food supply. California has banned the feeding of poultry litter to lactating dairy cows, but it is still legal to sell it as feed for beef and other cattle. While the federal government does not regulate poultry litter in animal feed, some states have implemented their own regulations to address contamination and processing concerns.

To increase transparency and support disease research, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has published genetic data from avian flu virus samples. The release comes after scientists raised concerns about the limited public information available to assess the outbreak’s risk. While the virus has not significantly impacted the dairy industry or milk supply, it has decimated bird populations and infected various mammal species, including cattle, a cat, and a human. The USDA released 239 genetic sequences of H5N1 samples from different animals and has previously shared sequences from the initial outbreak on a Texas dairy farm.