The spread of bird flu among poultry and dairy farms has heightened some health experts’ concerns that the
process of killing and disposing of poultry infected with the virus may pose a risk to humans and livestock
Recent instances of farms dumping carcasses in landfills and using methods to kill chickens that put workers in close proximity to the virus show how the process of getting rid of infected birds could further spread the disease, according to data obtained by Reuters and interviews with officials and disease experts
Extreme heat that made it difficult to keep protective equipment on during the asphyxiation by carbon dioxide of chickens on a Colorado egg farm likely contributed to five bird flu cases among workers, the largest cluster of human cases in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention said this week
The situation highlights the need for systematic use of protective gear when killing the sick animals, said the CDC’s Principal Deputy Director Nirav Shah on a Tuesday call with reporters about the outbreak
Workers killing chickens risk inhaling the virus, said Dr. Michael Osterholm, an infectious disease expert at the University of Minnesota, of the process. The workers had mild symptoms including pink eye and respiratory
issues
“Depopulation activities need to clearly focus on protection for these individuals,” he said
The Colorado Department of Agriculture said in response to questions that the method of killing birds is decided
jointly between the state, the farmer, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
source: https://www.reuters.com
(By Leah Douglas)
