U.S. bird flu costs pile up as outbreak enters second year
OMAHA, Neb. –
The ongoing chicken flu outbreak has value the federal government roughly US$661 million and added to customers’ ache on the grocery retailer after greater than 58 million birds had been slaughtered to restrict the unfold of the virus.
In addition to the price of the federal government response and rising costs for eggs, hen and turkey, farmers who elevate these animals have simply misplaced greater than US$1 billion, stated an agricultural economist, although nobody has calculated the overall value to the trade but.
The dangerous news is that with the outbreak getting into its second yr and the spring migratory season looming, there isn’t any finish in sight. And there may be little farmers can do past the steps they’ve already taken to attempt to hold the virus out.
Unlike previous years, the virus that causes extremely pathogenic avian influenza discovered a method to survive by way of the warmth of final summer season, resulting in an increase in instances reported within the fall.
The outbreak is already extra widespread than the final main chicken flu outbreak in 2015, but it surely hasn’t confirmed as pricey but partly as a result of the federal government and trade utilized classes realized eight years in the past.
“The past year has been devastating for the turkey industry as we experience, unequivocally, the worst HPAI (highly pathogenic avian influenza) outbreak in the industry’s history,” National Turkey Federation spokeswoman Shelby Newman stated.
In the present outbreak, 58.4 million birds have been slaughtered on greater than 300 business farms in 47 states. That is as a result of any time the virus is detected, your complete flock on that farm — which might quantity within the hundreds of thousands — should be killed to restrict the unfold of the illness. Only Hawaii, Louisiana and West Virginia have but to report a case of chicken flu. Iowa — the nation’s largest egg producer — leads the nation with practically 16 million birds slaughtered.
In 2015, about 50 million chickens and turkeys had been slaughtered on greater than 200 farms in 15 states.
That earlier outbreak stays the most costly animal well being catastrophe in U.S. historical past. The federal authorities spent practically US$1 billion to take care of contaminated birds, clear up barns and compensate farmers. It value the trade roughly US$3 billion as farmers incurred extra prices and misplaced cash once they did not have any birds on their farms.
This payments proceed to pile up this yr as instances unfold, and that features the associated fee to customers.
Egg costs shot as much as US$4.82 a dozen in January from US$1.93 a yr earlier, based on the most recent authorities figures. That spike prompted requires a price-gouging investigation though the trade maintains that the mix of chicken flu and considerably increased feed, gas and labour prices is what’s driving costs so excessive.
The value for a pound of hen breast was US$4.32 in January. That’s down barely from final fall when the value peaked at US$4.75, however it’s up considerably from the yr earlier than when hen breasts had been promoting for US$3.73 per pound.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics would not monitor retail turkey costs the identical method as a part of its inflation information, however the Agriculture Department says the wholesale value of turkey went from $1.29 per pound final January simply earlier than the chicken flu outbreak started to $1.72 per pound final month.
The variety of birds slaughtered peaked final spring at virtually 21 million in March, leaving farmers leery of what they need to face within the months forward. University of Georgia virus researcher David Stallknecht stated there may be some hope that this spring won’t be fairly as dangerous as a result of turkeys and chickens might have developed some immunity to the virus.
The key downside with chicken flu is that the extremely contagious virus is unfold simply by wild birds by way of their droppings and nasal discharges. Despite the very best efforts of farmers, it’s onerous to maintain the virus out.
Farmers have gone to nice lengths by requiring employees to bathe and alter garments earlier than getting into barns, sanitizing vans that enter a farm and investing in separate units of instruments for each barn. Some farms have even upgraded barn air flow and put in laser programs to discourage wild birds from congregating.
“We recommend all producers redouble their efforts to protect their birds through good biosecurity practices,” stated Lyndsay Cole, a spokeswoman for the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service that is main the federal government’s response.
Farmers started following these steps after the 2015 outbreak, and this outbreak has solely strengthened the necessity to tighten biosecurity.
“America’s egg farmers continue to double down on biosecurity protocols to protect our flocks and maintain a stable egg supply. We are grateful that there has been little to no farm-to-farm spread in this current outbreak,” stated Oscar Garrison, senior vp of meals security and regulatory affairs on the United Egg Producers commerce group.
Poultry and egg producers, partnering with the federal government, are parsing this outbreak for brand new classes in conserving birds wholesome.
“That’s really the key — early detection. It’s kind of like a forest fire – the earlier you detect it, the easier it is to contain and eradicate,” National Chicken Council spokesman Tom Super stated.
Officials say chicken flu would not characterize a major menace to human well being. Human instances are extraordinarily uncommon and not one of the contaminated birds are allowed into the nation’s meals provide. And correctly cooking poultry to 165 levels Fahrenheit will kill any viruses.
There has solely been one human case of chicken flu confirmed throughout this outbreak and that was a person who had been serving to slaughter and removes contaminated birds from a Colorado farm. He recovered from the sickness after a couple of days.
