An outbreak of the H5N1 avian flu has been recorded in the USA

According to the US Department of Agriculture, analyzed by CIDRAP, over the past 30 days the virus has been detected at 11 commercial facilities and 18 backyard flocks. The largest outbreak occurred at a commercial table-egg poultry farm in Clinton County, Illinois, where 934,600 layers were affected. This facility accounts for about 70% of all birds affected over the past month.

The autumn surge in incidence is associated with the seasonal migration of wild birds. In the upper Midwest, turkey-growing operations were affected, including farms in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and North Dakota. On the West Coast, positive tests were obtained in backyard flocks in California and Washington, as well as in wild birds—Canada geese and American white pelicans.

Infected commercial flocks are usually subject to culling to stop the spread of the virus, and control and surveillance zones are established around them. Federal health authorities assess the current risk to the general public as low, but increased attention to biosecurity should be paid by poultry farm workers, backyard owners, and hunters. As a preventive measure, it is recommended to use protective equipment and monitor health status for 10 days after contact with birds.

Properly cooked poultry meat and eggs remain safe for consumption, since infected flocks are not allowed into the food supply, and heat treatment to an internal temperature of 165°F kills the virus.