Greater than 22 million chickens and turkeys have been culled within the U.S. since February on account of an outbreak of avian influenza, in keeping with the U.S. Division of Agriculture.

Avian influenza instances have been confirmed in at the very least 24 states in each yard and business flocks, the USDA reported. As soon as an animal is detected to have chook flu, the flock is killed to be able to forestall the illness from spreading. The virus at the moment poses a low threat to the general public, in keeping with The Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.

Greater than 13 million birds have been affected in Iowa, the nation's greatest egg-producing state. Two flocks, every with greater than 5 million hens, have been contaminated, in keeping with Reuters.

"Fowl house owners ought to overview their biosecurity practices and keep vigilant to guard poultry and pet birds from this illness," the USDA beforehand stated in a press release. The Animal and Plant Well being Inspection Service are "working intently with state companions on surveillance, reporting, and management efforts," the division added.

There are two classes that chook flu can fall below. Low pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI) is of course occurring in migrating birds and might infect home poultry, however it creates little or no indicators of sickness. Extremely pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), which is answerable for the present outbreak, is extraordinarily infectious and might quickly unfold from flock-to-flock. It's typically deadly to chickens, in keeping with the USDA.

This can be a growing story and will probably be up to date when extra data turns into out there.

Replace 4/04/22, 1:52 p.m. ET: This text was up to date with further data.

Bird Flu Leads 22 Million Animals Culled
Greater than 22 million chickens and turkeys have been culled within the U.S. since February on account of an outbreak of Fowl Flu, in keeping with the Division of Agriculture. Above, a inventory picture of chickens.Jamie McDonald/Getty Photos