Avian flu spreads to 4continents including Africa,after killin 58 million American birds

Bird flu، known as Avian flu، has reached new countries in North and South America، Europe، Asia and Africa and become endemic for the first time in some wild birds that transmit the virus to poultry farms increasing threats to the world’s food supply، that farmers must view the disease as a serious risk all year، instead of focusing prevention efforts during spring migration seasons for wild birds.

The National Post، a division of Canadian Postmedia Network Inc. stated that Bird flu، known as Avian flu، has reached four continents and the prevalence of the virus in the wild birds signals that record outbreaks will not abate soon on poultry farms، and threaten to cause severe shortage to the world’s food، as the total U.S. deaths top 58 million birds last year، surpassing the previous 2015 record.

Threats of Bird flu، known as Avian flu

Veterinarians and disease experts warned that  Bird flu، known as Avian flu، has become a year-round problem in some wild birds that transmit the virus to poultry as outbreaks of the virus have continued to be undefeated by summer heat or winter cold snaps، since a strain arrived in the United States in early 2022 that was genetically similar to cases in Europe and Asia.

Egg prices increased to high levels for the first time to reach records after the disease wiped out tens of millions of hens last year، putting a staple source of cheap protein out of reach to some of the world’s poorest especially in Africa and Asia countres at a time the global economy is suffering from very high inflation.

Experts confirmed that prevalence of the virus of Bird flu، known as Avian flu

More than 20 veterinarians and disease experts as well as big farmers on four continents confirmed that prevalence of the virus of Bird flu، known as Avian flu، in the wild birds indicated that record outbreaks will not abate soon on poultry firms in many countries around the world as the virus is usually deadly to the entire flocks when even one bird tests positive. 

The veterinarians، disease experts and farmers on four continents said that farmers’ best efforts to protect flocks from the virus of Bird flu، known as Avian flu are falling short as the wild birds are primarily responsible for spreading the virus، because waterfowl like ducks and geese can carry the disease without dying and introduce it to poultry through their contaminated feces، saliva and other means.

About 1.5 million hens lost by Bird flu

Marcus Rust، Chief Executive of the American Rose Acre Farms، the USA’s second-largest egg producer، announced that he lost last year about 1.5 million hens at a Guthrie County، Iowa، even though anyone who entered the farms was required to shower first to remove any trace of the Bird flu، known as Avian flu virus.

He added that a company farm in Weld County، Colorado، was infected last year twice within about six months by Bird flu، known as Avian flu virus which killed more than 3 million chickens as wind blew the virus in from nearby fields where geese defecated.

It is very strange that  developed countries such as United States، Britain، France and Japan are among countries that have suffered record losses of poultry over the past year، leaving some farmers feeling helpless and knowing nothing about how to confront virus of Bird flu، known as Avian flu and protect their poultry.

Poultry now face Avian flu throughout the year

Experts of poultry outbreaks ascertain also that poultry in the Northern Hemisphere were previously considered to be most at risk when wild birds became active during spring migration bur soaring levels of the Avian flu or bird flu virus in a broad range of waterfowl and other wild birds mean poultry now face high risks  durind all the months of the year.

It is expected that the thread of Avian flu or bird flu virus to persist and need a 12-month vigil as it is a new war against the dangerous virus which killed in the U.S. state of Indiana more than 200،000 turkeys and other birds over the past year.

Vaccinations are not a simple solution to Avian flu virus

Unfortunately، the vaccinations are not a simple solution as they may reduce infections but not eliminate the threat from the virus، making it harder to detect its presence among poultry  flock as happened in Mexico and the EU states which are among those vaccinating or considering shots، but luckily، the risk to humans is low.

Experts concluded that wild birds have spread the disease farther and wider around the world than ever before as the virus changed from previous outbreaks to a form that is probably more transmissible and in record amounts of the virus so that the the disease is here to stay at least in the short term as it has become endemic in wild birds worldwide and is endemic in certain birds in some countrries like the USA.

Climate change may be contributing to the Avian flu virus global spread

Some experts suspect climate change may be contributing to the global spread by altering wild birds’ habitats and migratory paths especially during migration season which will pose an even greater risk to poultry and birds next March and April.

Some veterinarians، disease experts and farmers think that Bird flu، known as Avian flu virus is occurring even in a new poultry farm with modern equipment and no windows، so it is a must to believe in miracles and all we could do now is ask God to avoid an outbreak.