The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Center for Disease Control (CDC) provided an update on highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza outbreaks via a press conference this morning. This comes after the recent confirmed case on an Iowa egg farm.
USDA Chief Veterinary Officer John Clifford, CDC Medical Officer Dr. Alicia Fry and USDA Southeast Poultry Research Director David Swayne provided an update on the recent outbreaks, current U.S. and State government response efforts, and research efforts underway for a vaccine.
cms-15-140-editedDr. Clifford reminded listeners in his closing remarks that, “the risk to humans is low, our food supply is safe. These birds with high path AI are not going into the human food supply. We know how to address the disease when we find it and we have great support from our state partners as well as the industry.”
Yesterday at the 2015 Chicken Media Summit on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Dr. John Glisson with the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association was asked about the impact the recent outbreak might have on the industry. “It’s too early to know what’s going to happen,” he said. “Those birds will have to be destroyed and that’s a significant number of birds and a significant number of eggs that will not be available.”