Minnesota Declares State of Emergency Over Bird Flu

Minnesota has just declared a state of emergency. The cause? A fast-moving strain of avian flu detected at poultry farms around the state.

According to Al Jazeera, “The highly pathogenic H5N2 strain of bird flu has been identified on 46 Minnesota farms in 16 counties and affected more than 2.6 million birds in the state. This has already resulted in the destruction over 7 million birds.

Neighboring Wisconsin is not far behind. Avian flu hit Wisconsin last week, and according to a local news affiliate, “more than one million birds in the state are considered diseased.

Although this specific strain isn’t thought to be transmissible to people, state health workers in Minnesota have prescribed the antiviral drug Tamiflu to farm workers and others who may have come into contact with the birds.

Last month, the USDA confirmed one case of 40,000 infected turkeys on an Arkansas farm, and another outbreak on a farm in Missouri. All of the infected birds were killed.

Let’s not forget the massive avian flu epidemic that led to the deaths of millions of birds in Asia, and that the H5N1 strain detected at the time was transmissible—and even fatal—to humans.

It’s no wonder birds raised and killed for food become sick. The filthy conditions and overcrowding on today’s farms are breeding grounds for disease and bacteria.

Do your part to protect birds and your health by choosing humane alternatives to meat and eggs. Visit ChooseVeg.com today and learn more.

UPDATE: Reuters reports that the National Guard has been called into Minnesota, to deliver the water needed for a “foam-based” system used to suffocate turkeys infected with the H5N2 virus.