Avian flu attacks Utah, killing nearly two million chickens

Cache Valley • The onset of autumn brought cooler temperatures and bright colors. It has also brought birds with it – flocks of migratory waterfowl that sing their calls to each other in the sky every evening.

But with birds comes disease.

According to the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, highly pathogenic avian influenza has affected a commercial poultry flock in Cache County. An estimated 1.6 million to 1.8 million chickens have been quarantined and are currently being culled, according to state veterinarian Daniel Christensen, who said this is the largest outbreak the state has seen in recent years.

“Those poor guys,” Christensen said.

The disease was discovered last week after the poultry farm reported an unusually high mortality rate in its flock. When the state Department of Agriculture heard this, it immediately tested the birds and quarantined the facility to prevent further spread.

In these cases, depopulation – the euthanasia of infected birds – is necessary, Christensen said, and must be done as quickly as possible to prevent the spread of the virus while ensuring the animals do not suffer unnecessary suffering or stress.

The state did not name the facility affected by the outbreak.

Avian influenza is spread by migratory waterfowl, such as ducks and geese, that are currently on their fall migration through Utah. Although the disease is often fatal in domestic poultry such as chickens and turkeys, migratory birds usually carry the virus without showing severe symptoms, Christensen said.

“We were hoping we would get through this year without an outbreak,” he said. “I don’t have a crystal ball, but it’s safe to assume we’ll be seeing something like this every fall for a while.”

Christensen said the outbreak is currently limited to a commercial poultry farm and poses no immediate risk to public health. While the flu is devastating to poultry, the risk to humans is low. Although some people have reported mild symptoms such as conjunctivitis after contact with infected birds in the past, Christensen said such cases are rare and not a major cause for concern.

What Utahns should be concerned about, however, is their backyard poultry. Christensen said it is critical for poultry farmers to adopt biosecurity measures. These include restricting access to their flock, strict hygiene measures, quarantining new or sick birds, preventing contact with wild birds and daily monitoring of flock health.

“We see this from time to time,” Christensen said, “where someone has a stream running through their property and ducks get into the stream and then mix with their chickens, and then all their chickens die.”

Signs of a flu outbreak in poultry include a sudden high mortality rate in the flock, nasal discharge, decreased appetite or water consumption, and lack of coordination. If your birds exhibit any of these signs, contact the state veterinary office at [email protected].