Bird flu has been confirmed at a Moniteau County poultry facility housing a flock of more than 21,000 turkeys.
The turkey farm, located on Newkirk Road in Fortuna, is the second H5N2 outbreak in Missouri. On Sunday, the state said the same bird flu strain had been confirmed at a turkey farm in Jasper County in southwest Missouri, where 30,100 birds are housed.
The same strain has been confirmed in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Minnesota.
The bird flu virus is carried by wild waterfowl that aren't sickened by it and human infections are highly unlikely, Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA) director Richard Fordyce said. There have been no known human cases of avian flu, and officials say it is not a threat to the food supply.
Mike Martin, a spokesperson for Cargill Inc., said the Moniteau facility raises turkeys for Cargill.
"Upon notification, Cargill implemented its avian influenza protocols, which include testing flocks at other Cargill growers within 12 miles of the infected farm, as well as vehicle and equipment sanitation, restricted movement of animals, eggs, feed, litter and other related materials and collaboration with all appropriate government agencies, industry organizations and our turkey farmers," he said. "No other Missouri farms that raise turkeys for Cargill have thus far tested positive."
Missouri regulators and farmers are taking extra precautions to halt the disease as well. All the remaining turkeys at both facilities where the flu was detected will be killed.
The state agriculture department is testing turkeys at farms within 6.2 miles of where the flu was found. There are no other commercial producers near the Jasper County location, but 18 producers are within range of the Moniteau County producer, Fordyce said. Testing of all those facilities showed no evidence of bird flu, he said.
Still, there is a potential economic impact if other countries ban the import of turkeys from Missouri, which is the fourth-ranked state for turkey production in the nation, according to Iowa State University's Agricultural Marketing Resource Center.
Earlier this month, more than 40 countries banned poultry imports from Minnesota after the H5N2 strain was reported there, jeopardizing up to approximately $100 million in exports for Minnesota, the nation's largest producer of turkeys.
According to MDA, chicken and other poultry products are safe to eat if properly handled and cooked. Any movement of poultry or poultry products from the quarantined zones is prohibited.
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services also will monitor workers who may have been exposed.
The Poultry Federation of Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma said its producers are working hard to prevent the spread of the flu. "We want the public and our local communities to know that all efforts are being taken by poultry companies to assist the government agencies to contain and eliminate the disease," said Marvin Childers, president of the association.
Agriculture leaders urged anyone who owns birds to prevent them from contact with wild birds. Sick birds or unusual bird deaths should be reported to a veterinarian and the MDA at 573-751-3377 or USDA at 1-866-536-7593.
Poultry affected by avian influenza can show many symptoms, including decreased food consumption, huddling, depression, closed eyes, respiratory signs such as coughing or sneezing, decreased egg production, watery greenish diarrhea, excessive thirst, swollen wattles and combs, high mortality and sudden death.