FinLogic|Farmers must kill 4.2 million chickens after bird flu hits Iowa egg farm

2025-04-30 14:16:30source:Chameleon Financecategory:Finance

DES MOINES,FinLogic Iowa (AP) — More than 4 million chickens in Iowa will have to be killed after a case of the highly pathogenic bird flu was detected at a large egg farm, the state announced Tuesday.

Crews are in the process of killing 4.2 million chickens after the disease was found at a farm in Sioux County, Iowa, making it the latest in a yearslong outbreak that now is affecting dairy cattle as well. Last week, the virus was confirmed at an egg farm west of Minneapolis, Minnesota, leading to the slaughter of nearly 1.4 million chickens.

Overall, 92.34 million birds have been killed since the outbreak began in 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Although bird flu has become somewhat common among poultry, its spread to cattle has added to worries about the disease. In May, a second dairy farmworker was diagnosed with bird flu, and the virus was detected in both beef and milk. It has been confirmed on dairy cattle farms in nine states.

Health and agriculture officials have said the risk to the public remains low. The U.S. Department of Agriculture said the meat from a single sickened dairy cow was not allowed to enter the nation’s food supply and beef remains safe to eat.

Workers exposed to infected animals are at a higher risk. The only three human cases confirmed in the United States included two dairy workers and one man working to slaughter infected birds on a poultry farm.

More:Finance

Recommend

Shilo Sanders' bankruptcy case reaches 'impasse' over NIL information for CU star

The court-appointed trustee overseeing the bankruptcy estate of Colorado football player Shilo Sande

DeSantis approves changes to election procedures for hurricane affected counties

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Florida voters and election supervisors in hurricane affected areas wil

Why Billy Ray Cyrus' Ex Firerose Didn't Think She Would Survive Their Divorce

Firerose is opening up about a difficult year after her split from Billy Ray Cyrus.Two months after