As most of you are aware, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has confirmed several strains of highly pathogenic avian flu (HPAI) virus strains in turkey flocks in a handful of states. At presstime in late April, the (HPAI) virus had infected primarily turkey flocks, which have exhibited a slightly higher susceptibility to the virus than commercial broiler chickens. These virus strains are capable of causing rapid and widespread mortality in commercial flocks of all types of birds without proper controls.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Bird flu, or avian flu, is caused by a type of influenza virus that is hosted by birds but may infect several species of mammals. It was first identified in Italy in the early 1900s. A strain of the H5N1-type of avian influenza virus that emerged in 1997 has been identified as the most likely source of a future influenza pandemic. Avian influenza is caused by an orthomyxovirus, or influenza virus, and can survive for considerable lengths of time outside of the host, and birds are infected through contact with other birds, mechanical vectors such as vehicles and equipment and personnel travelling between farms, markets and abattoirs.”