Since its introduction to U.S. poultry in February 2022, the H5N1 bird flu virus has affected all states, leading to the death or culling of over 166 million birds. As prices for eggs soar, industry experts now question the sustainability of mass culling infected birds, exploring alternatives like targeted depopulation and vaccinations. However, these alternatives come with their own logistical and economic challenges. Despite discussions of new strategies, many experts still advocate for mass culling as the most effective response to this highly lethal and contagious virus.
People talk about common-sense solutions to bird flu, said Dr. Maurice Pitesky, a veterinarian and commercial poultry expert at UC Davis. But that's what mass culling is. There's a reason we've been doing it: It's common sense.
The current version of the bird flu known as H5N1 2.3.4.4b is both highly contagious and highly lethal. It has plowed through the nation's commercial chickens, turkeys and ducks with a mortality rate of nearly 100%.
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