March 7, 2022

Highly pathogenic bird flu detected in Missouri, US commercial chicken farm

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service said a highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of bird flu has been detected in a commercial flock of 240,000 broiler chickens at Stoddard County, Missouri state, US, Reuters reported.

Bird flu outbreaks have been detected at 10 commercial chicken and turkey farms in four states in the US, which has resulted in export restrictions.

240,000 chickens at a farm in nearby Fulton County, Kentucky state owned by Tyson Foods were culled in February 2022 after bird flu was confirmed.

Poultry producers in the US are tightening safety measures to prevent the spread of the virus in major poultry and egg producing states.

Bird flu outbreaks were also detected in backyard flocks in Iowa state, the biggest egg producing state in the US, and in Connecticut. The virus is believed to be spread by wild birds, after dozens tested positive for bird flu in the US East Coast.

-      Reuters