Bird flu strikes 25% of Iowa's 60 million hens

Bird flu continues to run rampant through Iowa's poultry industry, with more than 15 million chickens and turkeys now expected to be destroyed at 17 commercial operations in northwest Iowa.

Rembrandt Foods, one of the nation's largest egg suppliers, acknowledged Thursday that its 5.5 million-hen egg-laying facility in Buena Vista County is believed to be infected with avian influenza. If confirmed, it would be the nation's single largest bird flu outbreak.

The deadly virus is taking a toll on the state's economy as well. Iowa's egg-laying facilities stand to lose about $390 million in production, Dermot Hayes, an Iowa State University economist, estimated Thursday.

Iowa, the nation's largest egg producer, faces losing about 25 percent of the state's 60 million hens. Nationally, that represents about 5 percent of the total hen population, Hayes said.

Bill Northey, Iowa's secretary of agriculture, said it's clear the industry will be affected.

"These farms are getting hit hard," he said, adding that a federal indemnity program will help cover some of the losses. "They're going to be significant."

MORE: What you need to know about bird flu

Iowa has about 60 state employees working to quarantine commercial and domestic backyard flocks and test birds within 6.2 miles of infected operations. The U.S. Department of Agriculture also has teams in Iowa working with facilities on how best to depopulate and dispose of infected birds.

Puzzling spread of virus

The agency also is working to determine how the disease is being spread, despite intense biosecurity efforts.

Northey continues to consider calling in the Iowa National Guard, his office said. But the Spirit Lake area farmer said the state is pouring resources into the effort to battle and contain the disease.

The virus is believed to be spread by migratory birds such as ducks and geese that leave their droppings on farms. Some have speculated that farm workers are unknowingly transporting bird flu, or it is spreading on dust or bird feathers blown by the wind.

Northey said state and federal officials face "a heck of a challenge" to euthanize and dispose of the birds. The virus can kill flocks within 48 hours.

"Sometimes, the birds are dying before workers can get there. So it can cause some issues with odors and flies," he said. "Workers are moving as fast as they can. ... They're trying to minimize the impact."

State Sen. David Johnson, R-Ocheyedan, said he's gotten calls this week from neighbors around Sunrise Farms, an Osceola County farm infected last week. The facility houses 3.8 million laying hens.

"Neighbors are seeing a marked increase in flies and smell," he said.

Johnson said state officials told him that a contractor would fly and spray pesticides over the facility to kill the flies.

State and federal officials have said many of the infected operations will compost the infected birds, but facilities also could landfill, incinerate or send birds to a rendering plant.

The birds are euthanized using carbon dioxide or applying foam, similar to what is used to suppress a fire. Both processes quickly suffocate the birds, officials say.

RELATED:

• How do you destroy 3.8 million hens?
• 3rd bird flu outbreak hits 34,000 Iowa turkeys
• 5.3 million Iowa laying hens to be destroyed in bird flu outbreak
• Officials hope largest U.S. outbreak is Iowa's last

Effect on consumers

Johnson said he's concerned about the effect of the disease in northwest Iowa, where the virus has been heavily concentrated.

"The cost of the disease is going to be enormous, in terms of cleanup, disposal, enforcing quarantines," he said. "And we could lose thousands of jobs" as the operations work to get restarted.

Dozens of businesses provide services to the large poultry businesses — from carpenters and electricians to trucking and feed supplies.

Hayes, the ISU economist, said consumers across Iowa and the nation will likely pay more for eggs as the disease eliminates more laying hens from production.

Consumers can expect to pay potentially 25 percent more for a dozen eggs. The price increase is likely to hurt low-income consumers most, since eggs are a low-cost source of protein.

"They will be the ones who notice the price increase," Hayes said.

Additional outbreaks

Rembrandt Foods, the latest poultry operation hit by the virus, said its "focus over the past several weeks has been to diligently implement enhanced biosecurity procedures."

"Notwithstanding our best efforts, one of our barns at the Rembrandt, Ia., complex has become the latest facility in 18 states to test presumptive positive for avian influenza," the company said.

The Spirit Lake-based company said its egg-laying facilities in Renville, Minn., and Thompson, Ia., have not been affected.

The state also reported Thursday that two additional turkey farms have been infected in Buena Vista County. And 84,000 laying hens are believed to be infected in Sioux County. A laying hen operation is believed to be infected in Clay County as well.

There are no estimates on the number of turkeys infected in Buena Vista or laying hens infected in Sioux County, the state said.

Additional testing at the National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames is underway to confirm the virus.

Northey emphasized that the virus presents no threat to the food supply. And the risk to humans from the virus is considered low, according to the Centers for Disease Control and prevention. No human infections from the virus have been detected.

Hot line established

A new hot line has been established to help field concerns from Iowa residents and producers at 1-800-447-1985.

The Iowa Concern Hotline is available 24 hours a day. All calls are free and confidential, and operators are willing to assist wherever possible.