Dive Brief:
- The U.S. Department of Agriculture said a fifth South Dakota farm has been hit with the bird flu, currently the state's biggest outbreak.
- This bird flu strain, H5N2, has resulted in the deaths of over 250,000 turkeys in South Dakota and 2.5 million across the Midwest.
- South Dakota's state veterinarian, Dr. Dustin Oedekoven, says the deaths there should not prove a danger to the industry's total health in the state.
Dive Insight:
These mounting reports bring a variety of concerns. The USDA is trying to encourage strong biosecurity, but these practices are arguably too late considering the millions of deaths.
More reports are likely, and the USDA's chief veterinary officer, Dr. John Clifford, says the turkey industry may face H5N2 for a few years. He said while there may not be many new cases come warmer temperatures, but it will likely rear its head again this fall.