Tag Archives: avian flu

Business

Egg prices have soared 60% in a year. Here’s why.

Leave a comment

Inflation eases, but costs of eggs, other groceries still up


Inflation eases, but costs of eggs, other groceries still up

00:29

The rising cost of eggs in the U.S. is denting household budgets. Americans in recent years have increased the number of eggs they consume while reducing their intake of beef and venison, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

Egg consumption has grown in part because more families are eating them as their main protein substitute, Los Angeles Times reporter Sonja Sharp told CBS News. “Each of us eats about as many eggs as one hen can lay a year,” she said. 

As demand for eggs has risen, production in the U.S. has slumped because of the ongoing bird, or “avian,” flu epidemic. Nearly 58 million birds have been infected with avian flu as of January 6, the USDA said, making it the deadliest outbreak in U.S. history. Infected birds must be slaughtered, causing egg supplies to fall and prices to surge.

Egg prices in December rose 60% from a year earlier, according to Consumer Price Index data released Thursday. Across U.S cities, the average price for a dozen large grade A eggs was $4.25 last month, according to figures from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. 

In some states, it can even be hard to find eggs on the shelves. But egg supplies overall are holding up because the total flock of egg-laying hens is only down about 5% from from its normal size of around 320 million hens. Farmers have been working to replace their flocks as soon as they can after an outbreak.

Sharp said prices will likely not fall again until after new chickens are born without the infection and grow to egg-laying age. More than 300 flocks of farm-raised poultry have been hit by the outbreak as of last Friday, according to USDA data. 

In New York, grocery store owner Jose Filipe said that soaring egg costs have caused many customers to change their spending habits.

“I’ve seen customers gravitate from buying organic eggs now to more conventional eggs, and specifically now, the half dozen. Prices have quadrupled in about six or seven months,” he recently told CBS New York’s Jenna DeAngelis.

What is avian flu?

Bird flu is carried by free-flying waterfowl, such as ducks, geese and shorebirds, and infects chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, domestic ducks, geese and guinea fowl. In another major recent epidemic of the disease, it killed more than 50 million chickens and turkeys in 2014 and 2015, while causing economic losses of $3.3 billion, the USDA estimates. The agency is now researching a potential vaccine against the bird flu.

Fortunately, the public health risk related to bird flu remains low, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Still, cooking all poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165 ˚F is advised as a general food safety rule.

The cost of processed eggs — used in liquid or powdered form in manufactured products including salad dressing, cake mix and chips — has also surged, adding to inflationary pressures. 

Inflation cooling

The Consumer Price Index — a closely watched inflation gauge — rose 6.5% in December from the previous year. That was the smallest annual increase since October 2021, the Labor Department reported Thursday and continues the steady decline in price increases since they peaked at 9% in June of last year. Falling prices for energy, commodities and used cars offset increases in food and shelter.

But if eggs remain pricey, Chicago resident Kelly Fischer said she will start thinking more seriously about building a backyard chicken coop because everyone in her family eats eggs.

“We (with neighbors) are contemplating building a chicken coop behind our houses, so eventually I hope not to buy them and have my own eggs and I think the cost comes into that somewhat,” the 46-year-old public school teacher said while shopping at HarvesTime Foods on the city’s North Side. “For me, it’s more of the environmental impact and trying to purchase locally.”

Eggs are just one of a number of food staples that skyrocketed in price in 2022. For example, margarine costs in December surged 44% from a year ago, while butter rose 31%, according to the CPI data.

—The Associated Press contributed to this report

Khristopher J. Brooks

Khristopher J. Brooks is a reporter for CBS MoneyWatch covering business, consumer and financial stories that range from economic inequality and housing issues to bankruptcies and the business of sports.

Read original article here

Health

BC SPCA urging people to take down bird feeders as avian flu spreads

Leave a comment

The BC SPCA is urging the public to take down their bird feeders, as avian influenza continues to spread rapidly through wild bird populations.

Along with well-reported outbreaks in both small and commercial poultry flocks, the SPCA says the virus has been confirmed in wild birds in the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island and Northern regions of B.C.

The virus can be deadly to birds, and the organization warned it puts birds including great horned owls, bald eagles, great blue herons, ducks and geese, and even crows at risk.

Read more:

Avian flu in Canada: Everything you need to know

“The number of confirmed positive cases is just the very tip of the iceberg,” BC SPCA manager of wild animal welfare Andrea Wallace said in a media release.

Story continues below advertisement

“The number of suspected cases – alive or deceased – far exceeds the capacity to test the animals. In addition, many animals that pass away in the wild are never recovered.”

The organization is calling on people to remove seed and suet bird feeders, in order to discourage birds from gathering and potentially spreading the disease.




Avian flu outbreak taking heavy toll on B.C. farmers


Bird feeders, it says, create “unnatural congregations” of birds who can pass the virus to one another, or contract it from other birds droppings on the ground underneath the feeder as they forage for fallen seed.

Trending Now

  • Kody Brown of ‘Sister Wives’ down to 1 wife — Meri Brown confirms marriage is over

  • World’s largest free-standing aquarium bursts, leaving 1,500 exotic fish dead

Trending Now

  • Kody Brown of ‘Sister Wives’ down to 1 wife — Meri Brown confirms marriage is over

  • Thousands of tourists stranded near Machu Picchu amid unrest in Peru

It’s also urging not to keep feeders or duck ponds near poultry barns, warning they can help the virus spread between domestic and wild birds.

The virus is resilient and can survive in the wild for several months, according to the BC SPCA. Anyone who visits an area where birds congregate or is in contact with wild birds should clean and disinfect their shoes, and thoroughly wash their clothes, it said.

Story continues below advertisement

Read more:

British Columbians asked to remove bird feeders due to avian flu outbreak

Birds that are sick with avian influenza may appear lethargic, unusually “fluffed up,” have nasal discharge, coughing and/or sneezing, diarrhea, or have excessively watery eyes or swelling of the head, neck and eyes, the BC SPCA said.

If you see a suspected sick bird, you can call the SPCA at 1-855-622-7722 for advice about what to do or how to find a local wildlife rehabilitation centre.

Sick or dead wild birds can also be reported to  the B.C. Wild Bird Mortality Investigation Protocol & Avian Influenza Surveillance Program at 1-866-431-BIRD (2473)

 

&copy 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.



Read original article here

Health

2 Charles River Swans Sick With Bird Flu Killed, Babies Rescued – NBC Boston

Leave a comment

A pair of sick swans at Boston’s Charles River Esplanade were euthanized this week, and five baby swans were later taken to a wildlife center to be evaluated, according to the city.

The sick swans had avian flu, the city said, which has been blamed for other bird kills around the country this year.

The Charles River Esplanade cases were reported by multiple people to Boston’s Animal Care & Control Division, which investigated Monday and was able to capture the birds with help from the Boston Fire Department, a city representative said.

The birds were “quite ill,” the representative said in a statement, and were euthanized.

On Wednesday morning, five cygnets — the baby swans — were rescued by animal control officials and taken to Cape Wildlife Center to be evaluated.

With the virus in Vermont, the state veterinarian wants farmers and backyard chicken raisers here to limit contact between their flocks and wild birds, to quarantine domesticated birds coming in from other farms, and to make sure boots and equipment aren’t contaminated with bird droppings — a common way influenza spreads between animals.

A new strain of bird flu has been alarming animal experts nationwide, killing wild birds, including bald eagles, and resulting in the culling of tens of millions of farm-raised chickens and turkeys since February.

Earlier this month, animal control officials on Tisbury in Martha’s Vineyard issued an “avian influenza warning” after hundreds of dead cormorants washed up around the island. Bird flu was suspected and being tested for; the officials said a new strain of the virus could be a major issue that may take years to recover from.

Officials in Maine have issued a warning about the H5N1 strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza

Read original article here

Health

Bald Eagles Are The Latest Victims Of Deadly Bird Flu Spreading Across U.S.

Leave a comment

A highly contagious and deadly strain of avian flu spreading among farms and wild birds in the United States has been claiming the lives of bald eagles.

Three bald eagles found dead in Georgia tested positive for the new influenza strain, H5N1, the state’s department of natural resources announced this week. The statement also noted that a survey of bald eagles near Georgia’s coast found more “failed nests” than expected, some containing dead eaglets. It wasn’t immediately clear if nest failures were due to avian flu.

Over the past month, H5N1 has also killed eagles in Maine, Ohio, South Dakota and Vermont, NPR reported. Wildlife rehabilitation center Back to the Wild said earlier in April that a dozen deathly ill eagles had been brought in, typically too sick to fly and unsteady on their feet.

“All of them died within hours of admission,” Back to the Wild assistant director Heather Tuttle told local news station WTVG. “One actually died within minutes of admission. When it comes to avian influenza we’ve not had an outbreak like this in our area.”

Bald eagles are one of several kinds of wild birds stricken by a highly contagious strain of bird flu spreading in North America.

viktor davare / 500px via Getty Images

Once deeply endangered in the lower 48 states, bald eagles are widely considered a major conservation success story. Steve Holmer of the American Bird Conservancy noted in 2018, however, that while eagles are no longer classified as endangered, people must “stay vigilant” to continue to protect the birds.

H5N1 has been detected in 25 states and has also been found in myriad other wild birds, including owls, geese, ducks and vultures. But its biggest toll has been on domestic chickens and turkeys. More than 20 million birds have been killed on farms where the flu has been detected in an attempt to curb the spread of the virus.

Meanwhile, zoos across North America have been keeping their birds inside, fearing that the virus could be devastating if any of the avian residents caught it.

Health officials have said that the risk to human health at this time is low. There’s been only one known case of H5N1 in humans, a person in England who raised birds and was asymptomatic.

fbq('init', '1621685564716533'); fbq('track', "PageView");

var _fbPartnerID = null; if (_fbPartnerID !== null) { fbq('init', _fbPartnerID + ''); fbq('track', "PageView"); }

(function () { 'use strict'; document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function () { document.body.addEventListener('click', function(event) { fbq('track', "Click"); }); }); })();

Read original article here

Health

Why Zoos Are Moving All Their Birds Inside

Leave a comment


(Newser)
–
Zoos across North America are moving their birds indoors and away from people and wildlife as they try to protect them from the highly contagious and potentially deadly avian influenza. Penguins may be the only birds visitors to many zoos can see right now, because they already are kept inside and usually protected behind glass in their exhibits, making it harder for the bird flu to reach them. Nearly 23 million chickens and turkeys have already been killed across the United States to limit the spread of the virus, and zoos are working hard to prevent any of their birds from meeting the same fate, the AP reports.

It would be especially upsetting for zoos to have to kill any of the endangered or threatened species in their care. “It would be extremely devastating,” says Maria Franke, who is the manager of welfare science at Toronto Zoo, which has less than two dozen Loggerhead Shrike songbirds that it’s breeding with the hope of reintroducing them into the wild. “We take amazing care and the welfare and well being of our animals is the utmost importance.” Workers at the zoo are adding roofs to some outdoor bird exhibits and double-checking the mesh surrounding enclosures to ensure it will keep wild birds out. Birds shed the virus through their droppings and nasal discharge.

When bird flu cases are found in poultry, officials order the entire flock to be killed because the virus is so contagious. However, the US Department of Agriculture has indicated that zoos might be able to avoid that by isolating infected birds and possibly euthanizing a small number of them. Among the precautions zoos are taking is to keep birds in smaller groups so that if a case is found, only a few would be affected. The National Aviary in Pittsburgh — the nation’s largest—-is providing individual health checks for each of its roughly 500 birds. Many already live in large glass enclosures or outdoor habitats where they don’t have direct exposure to wildlife, says Dr. Pilar Fish, the aviary’s senior director of veterinary medicine and zoological advancement. (Read more bird flu stories.)

var FBAPI = '119343999649';

window.fbAsyncInit = function() { FB.init({ appId: FBAPI, status: true, cookie: true, xfbml: true, oauth: true, authResponse: true, version: 'v2.5' });

FB.Event.subscribe('edge.create', function (response) { AnalyticsCustomEvent('Facebook', 'Like', 'P'); }); };

// Load the SDK asynchronously (function (d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));



Read original article here

Health

570,000 broiler chickens to be destroyed as bird flu hits Nebraska poultry farm | Local Business News

Leave a comment

Nebraska has confirmed its first case of the bird flu in a commercial flock of chickens.

The state Department of Agriculture said the highly contagious disease has been found in a flock of 570,000 broiler chickens in Butler County.

Jessica Kolterman, a spokesperson for Lincoln Premium Poultry, confirmed that the flock is on a farm that raises chickens sent for processing at the company’s Costco-affiliated operation in Fremont.


Lincoln zoo closes bird exhibits because of threat from avian flu


Nebraska reports bird flu in backyard flock in Merrick County

Bird flu had previously been found in several wild geese and a mixed backyard flock in Merrick County, but its discovery in a commercial poultry operation ups the stakes in Nebraska.

The state Agriculture Department said the farm has been quarantined and all 570,000 birds will be humanely destroyed. It also has set up a 6.2-mile control zone around the farm, and producers within that radius will not be allowed to move poultry products on or off their premises without permission.

Kolterman said she believes there are other Lincoln Premium Poultry operations within that quarantine zone.

People are also reading…

State Veterinarian Roger Dudley said the Butler County farm had increased its safety practices and heightened observational testing amid the nationwide outbreak. It quarantined itself after noticing higher-than-normal mortality among its flock and notified the department.


Ag Department warns Nebraska poultry farmers to watch for avian flu


Bird flu case found in goose in Lincoln

“Having a second farm in Nebraska confirmed to have HPAI is unfortunate but not completely unexpected,” said Agriculture Director Steve Wellman. “(The department) will use all the resources at our disposal, in coordination with our federal partners, to manage a quick response.”

Kolterman said Lincoln Premium Poultry, which raises chickens for the Costco processing plant in Fremont, has been operating at the highest level of biosecurity possible. She said the company will take direction from the state Agriculture Department and the U.S. Department of Agriculture on how to euthanize and dispose of the birds and how to move forward at the affected farm.

Bird flu so far has infected nearly 15 million birds in the U.S., the worst outbreak since 2015.

That outbreak seven years ago led to nearly 5 million laying hens being euthanized at six farms in Dixon County. Nationwide, more than 50 million birds were killed in what is considered the worst outbreak on record.

Reach the writer at 402-473-2647 or molberding@journalstar.com.

On Twitter @LincolnBizBuzz.

Read original article here

Health

Bird flu case forces killing of 5.3 million chickens in Iowa

Leave a comment

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – State agriculture officials say the confirmation of bird flu at another Iowa egg-laying farm will force the killing of more than 5 million chickens.

It’s the second case of avian influenza in Buena Vista County, about 160 miles northwest of Des Moines, but the outbreak confirmed Friday is at an operation with 5.3 million chickens.

The earlier case was at a farm with about 50,000 turkeys.

The latest case means nearly 12.6 million chickens and turkeys in at least eight states have been killed or will be destroyed soon.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the cases in birds do not present an immediate public health concern.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Read original article here

The Ultimate News Site