Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Joni Ernst says it appears efforts to contain bird flu are working to prevent the outbreak from growing far worse.
In the massive bird flu outbreak in 2015, the virus spread among commercial operations. Officials from the USDA and the Iowa Department of Agriculture say it appears this year’s outbreak is being spread by wild birds that come into contact with backyard flocks and commercial poultry operations. Ernst says when a sick flock is detected, there’s a quick and coordinated response from federal, state and local officials.
Ernst met with poultry producers in Clarion Monday. Scientists believe this current strain of bird flu is similar to the virus that has been periodically circulating in Europe and Asia.
The outbreak of avian influenza among wild birds in America is far more extensive than it was seven years ago. The virus has been confirmed in 40 wild bird species in 30 states.
