As the bird flu, also known as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), spreads among poultry and dairy farms, health officials are raising alarms about current methods of culling and disposing of infected birds. These concerns focus on the risks of further spreading the virus to humans and other livestock. A recent Reuters report highlighted troubling practices, such as disposing of carcasses in landfills and using dangerous methods to kill chickens.
Recent data and expert interviews revealed that some farms are dumping infected carcasses in landfills, raising environmental contamination concerns. Additionally, methods like asphyxiation using carbon dioxide, which requires workers to be in close contact with the birds, have been criticized for inadequate safety measures.
One notable case occurred on a Colorado poultry farm, where hot weather made it difficult for workers to wear protective gear during the asphyxiation process. This likely contributed to the largest cluster of human bird flu cases in the U.S., with five workers in Weld County contracting the virus. These workers showed mild symptoms such as pink eye, cough, sore throat, and runny nose, with none requiring hospitalization.
Governor Jared Polis declared a disaster emergency on July 8, and the Colorado Department of Agriculture ordered the culling of 1.78 million chickens. Bird flu has spread to nearly every U.S. state over the past 2.5 years, with nine cases among poultry and dairy workers since March, including those in Colorado.
Julie Gauthier, a USDA official, explained that decisions on culling methods are made jointly by the state, farmer, and USDA. In Colorado, workers used mobile gas chamber carts to kill the birds. More than 150 workers were exposed to infected poultry, with 69 showing symptoms and five testing positive for HPAI.
Disposal methods for the culled birds have also come under scrutiny. Most infected chickens are composted on-site to avoid moving the carcasses and potentially spreading the virus, according to USDA data. However, some carcasses are transported to landfills, which has faced criticism. For example, Herbruck’s Poultry Ranch disposed of nearly two million chickens in private landfills between April and June, raising concerns when a nearby dairy farm tested positive for bird flu.
The risk to the general public remains low, according to the CDC, with only nine human infections registered in three states since 2022. However, the mass culling of chickens has significant implications for the food supply and prices. Since February 2022, approximately 95 million chickens, turkeys, and other poultry have been culled and disposed of, with 2022 being the deadliest year.
The USDA states that consuming eggs or chickens that were sick with bird flu is safe if they are properly cooked to at least 165°F, which kills the virus and other pathogens. However, proper hygiene and food safety practices are essential to prevent cross-contamination when handling raw poultry.
According to the CDC, the H5N1 strain of HPAI has been confirmed in 163 dairy herds in 13 states. Bird flu has been detected in over 100 million wild aquatic birds, commercial poultry, and backyard flocks in 48 states since January 2022.