By Avian flu has hit turkey farms in South Dakota and North Dakota, the first cases in commercial flocks in the U.S. since early July.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service on Aug. 28 confirmed an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Faulk County, which is southwest of Aberdeen. The outbreak meant 55,400 birds were killed to prevent the spread of the virus.
It was the first case in a U.S. commercial flock since July 2, when the avian flu was confirmed at a game bird facility in Lancaster County, Penn.
The North Dakota Department of Agriculture announced Wednesday, Sept. 3 that bird flu had been confirmed Saturday, Aug. 30 at a turkey farm in Dickey County, which is just north of Aberdeen.
Avian flu has recently been confirmed at commercial turkey farms in the Dakotas. U.S. Department of Agriculture Research Service photo by Scott Bauer.
Ethan Andress, state veterinarian in North Dakota, said 60,000 birds had to be destroyed in Dickey County.
South Dakota State Veterinarian Beth Thompson said there have also been confirmed cases in Edmunds and Beadle counties.
Thompson
So far in South Dakota, only the Faulk County and one of two cases in Beadle County are on a national map that tracks avian flu. Combined, nearly 108,000 turkeys have been euthanized resulting from those South Dakota cases, she said, but that number will grow.
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Most likely, the confirmed cases are a sign of more to come, Thompson said, adding “I would be overjoyed if I’m wrong.”
The cases are at commercial turkey operations, which usually have 50,000 to 60,000 birds, she said.
Andress said that because large flocks of waterfowl such as snow geese are not yet migrating south over the Dakotas, it might be an indication that the virus was spread from local waterfowl.
“After a quiet summer, it’s not unexpected that we have another case of (highly pathogenic avian influenza) as birds are gathering to begin the fall migration,” North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring said in a news release.
Thompson and Russ Daly, South Dakota State University Extension veterinarian, said it’s early for avian flu cases to be confirmed because the waterfowl migration is usually later in the fall.
Avian influenza exists in many wild birds and can be transmitted by contact with infected birds or through infected food and water.
Large outbreak would harm turkey producers
Daly said a larger breakout would be harmful for turkey producers.
Every time even one case of avian flu is detected, the entire flock of turkeys needs to be killed to prevent spreading, he said. While the U.S. Department of Agriculture offers indemnity payments, they don’t offset the amount made when the turkeys are sold. Outbreaks can result in a substantial financial loss, Daly said.
Daly
While tens of thousands of birds have been euthanized, and that number sounds big, it’s tiny compared to the number of turkeys nationwide, he said.
There were 205 million commercial turkeys produced in the U.S. last year, according to USDA data.
If the outbreak winds up to be widespread, the cost of Thanksgiving turkeys could increase, Daly said. Now is about the time the birds are harvested and frozen for the holiday, he said.
Avian flu is not a human food safety issue, he said, but it’s still concerning. Other animals that can be affected include dairy cows and cats, particularly farm or backyard cats that live outdoors.
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes the public health risk is low, but that avian flu also has spread to dairy cattle and humans with one human death.
The good news is there hasn’t been a confirmed case of avian flu in dairy cattle in South Dakota in a long time, Daly said.
Precautionary measures
Thompson said there are a couple of precautionary measures people who raise turkeys can take.
One big step is trying to eliminate waterfowl access to barns. Draining nearby ponds is one way to do that, though she knows that might be difficult given how much rain most of eastern South Dakota has had this summer.
Producers should also make sure not to carry waterfowl manure into barns and keep unannounced visitors from farms, Thompson said.
She said farmers who notice sick or dying birds should contact their veterinarian.
In August, avian flu was also confirmed at a live-bird market in Los Angeles and in backyard birds in St. Lawrence County in New York, according to the USDA.
The poultry industry has been combating different strains of avian influenza since 2020, according to the CDC.
