Avian Bird Flu Continues To Raise Concerns In Midwest

May 26, 2022

With the H5N1 avian flu strain sweeping the country, zoos are keeping their birds indoors. In Ohio, a backyard flock was infected, as were a few fowl in northwest Ohio. As a whole, numbers have remained low in the state and no cases were reported in April, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The Division of Wildlife is working closely with the Ohio Department of Agriculture, USDA, and other state and federal agencies to monitor the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. It is a serious disease and requires rapid response because it is highly contagious and often fatal to chickens.

All Ohioans can report sick or dead wild birds suspected of HPAI at 800-WILDLIFE (945-3543) or wildohio.gov. The following bird species should be reported:

Any raptor, such as a bald eagle.
Multiple waterfowl, such as geese or ducks.
Any other large congregation of sick or dead birds.

HPAI occurs naturally in bird populations and is monitored closely by the U.S. Geological Survey. Native Ohio birds such as shorebirds, raptors and waterfowl are vulnerable to HPAI. Domestic chickens and turkeys also are vulnerable to HPAI. The virus is transmitted from bird to bird through feeding and interactions.

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Video: What Does 20 MILLION Hogs a Year Look Like?

?? The Multi-Plant System Processing 20 Million Hogs Annually in the Midwest JBS USA operates multiple large-scale pork processing facilities across the Midwest, including major plants in Iowa, Minnesota, and Indiana. Combined, these facilities have the capacity to process approximately 20 million hogs annually.

Each plant operates high-speed automated slaughter systems capable of processing up to 20,000 head per day, followed by fabrication lines that break carcasses into primals, sub-primals, and case-ready retail products.

Hog procurement is coordinated through electronic marketing platforms that connect regional contract finishing operations and independent producers to plant demand schedules. This digital procurement system allows for steady supply flow and scheduling efficiency across multiple facilities.

Processing plants incorporate comprehensive food safety systems, including pathogen intervention technologies, rapid chilling processes, and integrated cold-chain management. USDA inspection is embedded throughout the harvest and fabrication stages to ensure regulatory compliance and product integrity. Finished pork products — from bulk primals to retail-ready packaged cuts — are distributed through coordinated logistics networks serving domestic and export markets.