A fresh wave of H5N1 bird flu is hitting commercial turkey farms across Minnesota and the Dakotas, affecting more than 417,000 birds as fall migration gets underway. Minnesota, the nation’s largest turkey-producing state, has reported three affected flocks totaling 92,100 birds, while outbreaks in South Dakota and North Dakota have affected hundreds of thousands more. When highly pathogenic avian influenza is found on a commercial farm, entire infected flocks are typically destroyed to prevent further spread, followed by cleaning and virus-elimination procedures before production can resume. The latest outbreaks come just ahead of the Thanksgiving and Christmas season, when demand for turkey traditionally rises.
Why This Matters:
Bird flu continues to show how quickly an animal disease can put pressure on a major part of the food supply. Minnesota alone raised 32 million turkeys last year, and outbreaks in the heart of U.S. turkey production can remove birds from the supply chain, interrupt farm operations, and increase costs for producers. With fall migration underway and holiday demand approaching, additional outbreaks could add even more strain to production and prices. Keeping emergency food storage at home gives families another layer of protection when disease outbreaks, shortages, or rising prices affect the foods they normally rely on.
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Source: Newsweek
By: Jordan King
