The first case of avian influenza since last spring was detected on a Dane County poultry farm yesterday, according to the assistant Wisconsin State Veterinarian, who said that, left unchecked, could devastate Wisconsin’s $200 million poultry industry.
Darlene Konkle, the assistant Wisconsin State Veterinarian, confirmed that highly contagious avian influenza that strikes chickens and turkeys was found in a 20,000-bird flock.
Avian influenza is a respiratory illness that almost always ends in sudden death and is primarily spread through wild waterfowl, said Konkle. Konkle notes that when a flock of birds is hit, preventative measures must be taken by killing the whole flock as well as quarantining the area to prevent the spread of the virus. …show more content…
Since last spring almost 1.8 million birds have been killed in Wisconsin from Avian influenza as well as nearly 48 million birds nationally, according to the State Agriculture Department.
American consumers have experience the effects of avian influenza primarily through higher egg prices. Between July 2014 and July 2015 egg prices went up as much as 25%, according to the Consumer Price Index (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
The epidemic hit egg production and turkey meat the hardest, but did not have much effect on the price of chicken meat, according to David Maloni, president and chief commodity strategist of the American Restaurant Association in a report by CNBC.
“The specter of an avian flu resurgence in the fall has proven confounding to the industry, making it hard to predict price changes,” said Russell Whitman, a turkey-market analysis, in a report produced with Wisconsin Public …show more content…
Because of the previous outbreak, many foreign countries halted the import of the state’s poultry, according to a report done by Wisconsin Public Radio. These bans over the first half of 2015 cost a total of $390 million, which resulted in a 14-percent drop in overall value, according to the USA Poultry and Egg Export Council.
When avian influenza hits, the economic impacts are spread throughout the poultry supply chain, affecting the processing facilities as well as the retail market, according to a report by Wisconsin Public Radio. In some areas of Wisconsin, poultry plays a significant role in the local economy, however this is not the case in Dane County, according to the UW-Extension.
There is no indication that this is a threat to the public health, poultry is still safe to eat as long as it is cooked properly and thoroughly, said Konkle. Konkle recommended heating meat to 165 degrees Fahrenheit, washing your hands while preparing food and keeping surface areas clean.
Consumers should know that no sick or ill birds are going into production and eggs are not affected by this outbreak, said
Darlene Konkle, the assistant Wisconsin State Veterinarian, confirmed that highly contagious avian influenza that strikes chickens and turkeys was found in a 20,000-bird flock.
Avian influenza is a respiratory illness that almost always ends in sudden death and is primarily spread through wild waterfowl, said Konkle. Konkle notes that when a flock of birds is hit, preventative measures must be taken by killing the whole flock as well as quarantining the area to prevent the spread of the virus. …show more content…
Since last spring almost 1.8 million birds have been killed in Wisconsin from Avian influenza as well as nearly 48 million birds nationally, according to the State Agriculture Department.
American consumers have experience the effects of avian influenza primarily through higher egg prices. Between July 2014 and July 2015 egg prices went up as much as 25%, according to the Consumer Price Index (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
The epidemic hit egg production and turkey meat the hardest, but did not have much effect on the price of chicken meat, according to David Maloni, president and chief commodity strategist of the American Restaurant Association in a report by CNBC.
“The specter of an avian flu resurgence in the fall has proven confounding to the industry, making it hard to predict price changes,” said Russell Whitman, a turkey-market analysis, in a report produced with Wisconsin Public …show more content…
Because of the previous outbreak, many foreign countries halted the import of the state’s poultry, according to a report done by Wisconsin Public Radio. These bans over the first half of 2015 cost a total of $390 million, which resulted in a 14-percent drop in overall value, according to the USA Poultry and Egg Export Council.
When avian influenza hits, the economic impacts are spread throughout the poultry supply chain, affecting the processing facilities as well as the retail market, according to a report by Wisconsin Public Radio. In some areas of Wisconsin, poultry plays a significant role in the local economy, however this is not the case in Dane County, according to the UW-Extension.
There is no indication that this is a threat to the public health, poultry is still safe to eat as long as it is cooked properly and thoroughly, said Konkle. Konkle recommended heating meat to 165 degrees Fahrenheit, washing your hands while preparing food and keeping surface areas clean.
Consumers should know that no sick or ill birds are going into production and eggs are not affected by this outbreak, said