Source: Chris Scott, MEATINGPLACE, 4/27/15

Officials in Iowa and Ontario, Canada, reported additional outbreaks of a form of avian influenza over the weekend as Minnesota officials prepared to extend a state of emergency over their outbreaks among turkeys.

Iowa’s Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship said preliminary results indicate that a 34,000-bird commercial turkey flock in Sac County has been infected with a strain of the H5 strain of bird flu, the third such outbreak in Iowa so far.

Additional lab tests are under way to determine the exact strain, but the facility is located inside the monitoring zone near the first case of H5N2 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in nearby Buena Vista County. The affected Sac County birds are under quarantine and are expected to be humanely culled to prevent the spread of the disease, the agency reported.

Meanwhile, a third poultry farm in Ontario’s Oxford County has tested positive for the H5 strain of bird flu, affecting about 8,000 turkeys, according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). The first two outbreaks were confirmed earlier this month and resulted in about 44,800 turkeys and 27,000 broiler breeder chickens being infected within two bird flu control zones in two counties.

Minnesota Gov. is expected to ask the state executive council today to consider extending the state of emergency declared last week after a visit to some of the farms confirmed to be infected with H5N2 HPAI, according to Minnesota Public Radio. An estimated 50 poultry farms are dealing with the effects of H5N2 with the area near Willmar, Minn., having the highest number of birds – 45,000 – killed within the state as a result of the outbreak.

Impact
Poultry industry insiders and trade experts, however, do not appear to be too concerned about the longer-term effects of the HPAI outbreaks across the nation.

The mood among attendees of the EMI Spring Poultry Outlook conference was optimistic despite the avian flu situation, since lower feed costs and strong demand should result in above-average chicken demand, according to analyst Kenneth B. Zaslow of BMO Capital Markets.

He also reported that although the industry remains uncertain of the cause and prevention of avian influenza, the industry “did not appear overly rattled” by the spread of HPAI.

Prospects for a vaccine being developed could also limit a bird flu rebound this fall as temperatures cool and the flu season makes a potential return.

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