Low-strain Avian flu at MO Cargill facility

Avian Influenza has been detected at a poultry facility operation in Southwest Missouri that’s contracted with Cargill and thousands of young birds are being killed to prevent the spread. But, Missouri Ag Department Director Jon Hagler says people should not be alarmed, because this is a low-pathogen strain of bird flu, H7N3.

“That’s the type that is very rare to transmit to humans,” says Hagler, “We immediately implemented the biosecurity measures that go into that. We’ve isolated the facility. We’ve tested, retested the birds in that facility. Those tests are still unprocessed and we’re testing the birds around the facility.”

The Polk County operation has been quarantined and birds are being tested within a six-mile radius. A Cargill spokesman tells the Springfield News Leader that the decision to destroy the birds and bury them is precautionary because while tests are positive for avian flu, the birds show no sign of illness. Additional testing is being done on samples at the National Veterinary Services lab in Ames, Iowa.