Avian Flu Outbreak Ravages US and Global Poultry Flocks

Bird flu cases are surging across the US and globe, with over 4.8 million birds affected in January and early February alone, according to USDA data reported by Sentient Media. In the last 24 hours, fresh outbreaks hit Pennsylvania's Lancaster County, where a commercial egg-layer facility lost 104,800 birds, a turkey farm 36,000, and another poultry site 25,100, per CIDRAP. Sonoma County, California, confirmed 86,600 birds impacted at a broiler facility.

Colorado declared a disaster after 1.3 million birds were culled at one site, while Pennsylvania saw 1.5 million more affected recently, Sentient Media notes. Utah officials reported nearly 50 wild bird carcasses testing positive since October, urging removal of backyard feeders to protect domestic flocks, KUTV states. Wild mammals aren't spared: two foxes in Los Angeles and Connecticut, a cat in New Jersey, and a skunk in Colorado's Pueblo County tested positive this week, per CIDRAP and local reports.

States like Arkansas, Texas, and Colorado issued warnings Friday against touching dead wild birds or mammals, as migrating waterfowl drive seasonal spikes from November to March, experts at UC Davis tell Sentient Media. Globally, Poland culled millions of chickens early this year, Europe confirmed its first cow case in the Netherlands, and H5N1 killed over 50 skuas in Antarctica for the first time, ScienceDaily reported February 12.

No new human cases in the past day; CDC says risk remains low, with 71 US cases total as of late January per HPJ. Poultry culling continues amid calls for vaccines and better biosecurity, though trade fears stall progress.

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