MINNEAPOLIS -- One of the nation's largest egg producers says it will destroy 2 million egg-laying hens in Minnesota due to a highly contagious avian flu virus H5N2.
The development at the south-central Minnesota chicken farm brings the total of affected birds to 35 million in 15 states, with Minnesota and Iowa poultry flocks hit the hardest by the bird flu.
The chickens will be destroyed in the next four weeks at Rembrandt Enterprises farm in Renville, the Star Tribune reported Saturday.
Bird flu hits hard in egg-producing Iowa
The men charged with ridding the farm of a deadly contagion tugged at their dark green protective suits and adjusted the double-intake respirators covering their faces.
"Biosecure. Stop!" read a sign at the farm entrance.
Another sign, in red letters, advised, "All employees & drivers must disinfect tires."
Just past the checkpoint sat Rose Acre Farms, a family-owned egg-laying facility that is one of dozens of poultry farms hit hard by the worst avian influenza outbreak in U.S. history.
The jumpsuits, quarantine zones and bleach for disinfecting are among the tools officials in Iowa, the nation's top egg-producing state, are using to halt the spread of the disease.
Rose Acre Farms, which has 17 facilities across six states, said it would euthanize about 1.5 million chickens here in Winterset, a town of about 5,100 best-known as the birthplace of John Wayne. Dozens of gas canisters were lined
up on the farm's muddy driveway Thursday morning as part of the eradication plan.
"Don't get too close," a sentry in a white jumpsuit cautioned.
Entire flocks are killed with carbon monoxide gas, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, regardless of how many birds on a farm are actually infected. Some are killed with foam.
Credit to CBS and LA Times
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