One flu over the cuckoo’s nest has lawmakers concerned

WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - According to the CDC, avian flu comes with a 90 to 100% mortality rate in chickens.  For a poultry farmer, it could wipe out their whole operation within 48 hours

Back in 2015, an avian flu outbreak swept the United States, killing 43 million chickens, and 7.4 million turkeys.

According to the USDA, it was the largest outbreak ever recorded - and what they call the most significant animal health event in US history.

To avoid history repeating itself, 17 Senators wrote a letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, demanding more transparency when it comes to early outbreak warning systems.

“We need to keep everybody in the know,” said Rep. Dusty Johnson, (R-SD) “Obviously when you’re talking about disease outbreaks it is difficult, you get a little bit of a fog of war early on with these outbreaks.”

Senator Joni Ernst, whose state was extremely impacted by the 2015 outbreak co-signed the letter, wanting more agencies involved in quelling potential catastrophe.

“Working on collaboration not only within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, but also working with other federal agencies, including the FDA as well as the CDC,” said Sen. Ernst.

It’s not just birds - this disease is flocking to livestock as well.

Back in March, Texas dairy cows began testing positive for avian flu.

While it’s less deadly in bovines, it’s still highly concerning for American consumers.

“Avian influenza is transitioning to dairy cows, so we want to make sure that we have science backed information and we understand how this is transitioning from birds into dairy herds,” said Sen. Ernst.

In response to the concern, Vilsack says the agency is freeing up 98 million dollars for livestock testing and farmer support, with emphasis on vaccine development.

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