When the value recently rose to $5 a dozen, it signaled a new outbreak of bird flu.
Outbreaks of avian influenza (a highly pathogenic form of avian influenza) wreak havoc on laying flocks of red leghorns (white eggs) and Rhode Island (brown eggs) after exposure to the virus brought through wild birds (migratory ducks and migratory ducks that transmit (to resident birds and then to poultry houses).
Newsmax recently published an article describing how the H5N1 influenza A virus, which is sometimes considered to pose no direct risk to humans, is possibly on the verge of mutating into a more virulent form that may also put at risk a new pandemic that may also simply turn out to be even worse than COVID-19. For this to happen, the virus would first have to cross the cross-species transmission barrier that has so far prevented direct transmission from birds to humans.
In my afterlife memories as a member of the 4-H Club, which raised chickens, there was no disease like bird flu at the time. There are a number of poultry diseases, coccidiosis (protozoan agent) and New Castle disease (virus). , who have been well treated or prevented by vaccination.
If vaccinated or treated, those and several other types of diseases would devastate the unprotected herd, as our county extension officials duly warned.
A case of avian influenza necessarily results in the death of an individual bird, but it adjusts its fitness to such an extent that it never regains its productivity.
The only option left is to kill the entire flock, which can add up to a million birds, then clean and sterilize the facility before starting again with a new flock of chicks. It would possibly take 4 to five months for a newborn chick to reach a novice. coat (pullet).
Small eggs received in the first few months are easily marketed as the Grade A jumbo eggs preferred by most consumers. The extra maturation time delays the time it takes to rehabilitate a successful egg production facility.
Severe and repeated outbreaks of avian influenza in recent decades are shaking up the egg market. And despite vaccines that have existed against other bird and livestock diseases, there is still no FDA-approved vaccine that confers immunity to avian influenza.
The expected mutations of the H5N1 virus could allow it to cross the interspecific barrier in humans.
In this regard, as far as I know, there has been no concerted effort to bring to market an antiviral product capable of defeating the H5N1 virus for the debilitating disease in poultry or livestock.
Today, with credible clients of an expected mutation of the H5N1 virus that could allow it to cross the barrier to succeed in humans, a sense of urgency is imposed on the debate.
Don’t worry about the exorbitant value of eggs at Kroger. There would possibly be a lot more at stake than paying five dollars or more for a dozen Grade A eggs.
The long-approved practice of culling flocks of poultry to prevent the spread of viruses to neighboring farms persists in today’s poultry industry. In turn, it is reinforced by the inner thinking of the federal government’s allies (USDA and FDA). There are still valid suspicions that it would possibly be much more than the simple random choice of some interests deriving advantages – and generously – from the curtains.
Follow the money, or qui bono, as the Romans used to say. The higher it is, the more profit margins will translate into higher profit margins across the industry.
I don’t like being called a conspiracy theorist, but too many bird flu outbreaks have hit the national scene for this story to be just a random series of unfortunate events.
In recent decades, there have been no repeated outbreaks of avian influenza, despite reports of its way of life as early as the 19th century.
Few veterinarians have been more brazenly addressed than the repeated outbreaks of avian influenza over the past two decades.
The popular reaction of the Washington government has been to call for the abstract culling (extirpation) of entire flocks of laying hens and roast turkeys if disease occurs.
However, there are other veterinary diseases in the United States that have long been effectively combated by appropriate drugs and the use of vaccines: New Castle disease and coccidiosis mentioned above are two clever examples that stand out among a dozen other relatively non-unusual diseases. Diseases that adversely affect poultry.
But, for some reason, the FDA has not yet approved an effective vaccine against bird flu. It is even evident that serious study efforts have been made to combat the disease through means such as vaccination.
Fortunately for our dairy farmers, they are not required to cull their herds if they are inflamed with the H5N1 virus. Most cows become completely inflamed after a nasty fortnight of respiratory discomfort.
In particular, milk and cheese, if found to be infected with the virus, will need to be properly disposed of before entering the retail market.
We can be comfortable knowing that the H5N1 virus is not thermally stable. Pasteurization deactivates the virus if it is first provided in advertising milk.
Meanwhile, cook the eggs thoroughly.
William D. Balgord, Ph. D. Environmental