Federal officials are concerned over an outbreak of the H5N2 avian flu in Arkansas. The virus was discovered in turkeys last week in that state, which has many poultry producers. Federal and state officials are working to contain the outbreak with new rules to create quarantine zones.
H5N2 is deadly to poultry, causing massive internal hemorrhaging. The virus can wipe out a flock within 2 days and, like many flu viruses, can mutate. This strain has also been detected in Missouri.
This strain of flu has not been detected in humans. H5N2 poses a low risk to humans, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The fear is not just that the virus will spread through poultry in Arkansas, but that other countries will stop the importation of chicken and turkey from the United States, which would hurt the economy. China and Mexico have restricted importation of poultry from the United States over previous outbreaks of avian flu.
The current rules have been used in previous outbreaks of avian flu in Arkansas, but H5N2 is a much more deadly strain to birds, which causes more worry.
The flu was detected in an Arkansas turkey producer that supplies turkeys to Butterball. When the flu was detected, the property was quarantined. The turkeys will be killed to prevent meat from infected animals from entering the good supply chain and to prevent further spread of the virus, the USDA said. Until the quarantine is lifted, no poultry within a 6-mile radius of the turkey farm can be moved in or out of the area.
However, avian flu can be spread by wild birds. The H5N8 bird flu, a similar strain, originated in Asia at the beginning of this year and migratory birds have brought it to North America. This is the time of year when migratory birds are heading north for the warmer months, which could spread different strains of avian flu and allow them to mingle with each other.
Arkansas is home to several chicken and turkey producers. There are also large poultry producers in the neighboring states of Louisiana and Texas.