Even with the Bird Flu spreading throughout the Northwest part of Iowa at a blistering pace, Southeast Iowans may not be aware of how the disease is already affecting them.
While no farms in the area have reported any sign of the H5N2 infection and no humans have been infected anywhere in the country, the economic and logistic effects of the virus are already being felt.
On Monday, the Burlington Eagles lodge had to cancel their “Drummies and Fries” dinner: due to a lack of chicken drumsticks, caused by the bird flu. Poultry and egg shortages are expected throughout not just Iowa, but the entire country as 19 million birds, both turkeys and chickens, in Iowa alone will be culled in order to prevent the spread of the disease.
Yes. That’s 19 million. More that the populations of New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Houston, and Philadelphia–combined.
Right now the H5N2 virus only infects birds, but Des Moines County Health Department Director Beth Baker says that it’s possible the virus could spread to humans.
“The organism can mutate and create a new organism that possible could spread to humans,” Baker told KBUR, “But at this point and time, that’s not the case.”
The only humans currently at-risk are those working in direct proximity to the infected birds. Baker says that eating poultry is safe and that you wont be at risk as long as the meat is properly cooked.
Four new farms affected by the Bird Flu were discovered yesterday, affecting over 3 million birds.
