In a harrowing turn of events for California poultry farms, the highly pathogenic avian influenza has wreaked havoc, leading to mass culling and economic losses. Over the past year, the state managed to escape the wave of outbreaks that devastated poultry farms in the Midwest. However, this year, the outbreak has hit California hard, with Sonoma County and Merced County being heavily impacted.

Last month, Mike Weber, the owner of Sunrise Farms in Petaluma, received the devastating news that his chickens had tested positive for avian flu. Following government regulations, Weber's company had to make the difficult decision to slaughter their entire flock of 550,000 egg-laying hens to prevent the disease from spreading to other farms in Sonoma County.

The loss of such a significant number of hens has dealt an economic blow to farmers, workers, and their customers, particularly in Petaluma, referred to as the "Egg Basket of the World." More than a dozen commercial farms in Sonoma County alone have been forced to destroy over 1 million birds to control the outbreak. Merced County has also experienced outbreaks at several large commercial egg-producing farms in recent weeks.

Experts point out that bird flu is primarily spread by migratory birds such as ducks and geese, which can carry the virus without falling sick. The virus is easily transmitted to chicken and turkey farms, as well as backyard flocks, through droppings and nasal discharges. To curb the spread of the disease, California poultry farms are implementing strict biosecurity measures. State Veterinarian Annette Jones has urged farmers to keep their flocks indoors until June, even organic chickens that are required to have outdoor access.

The impact of the avian flu outbreak extends beyond the agricultural sector. The loss of local hens has led to a spike in egg prices in the San Francisco Bay Area, causing shortages during the holiday season. Supermarkets and restaurants had to look for suppliers from outside the region to meet the demand. The price of a dozen eggs reached a peak of $4.82 in January 2023 but has since returned to normal as egg producers continue to rebuild their flocks.

The current outbreak of avian flu, which began in early 2022, has resulted in the slaughter of almost 82 million birds, primarily egg-laying chickens, in 47 U.S. states, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Whenever the disease is detected, the entire flock is culled to limit the spread of the virus. Turkey and chicken prices have also risen due to the impact of the virus.

Maurice Pitesky, a poultry expert at the University of California, Davis, has expressed concern, describing the avian flu as an "existential issue" for the commercial poultry industry. The virus has reached every continent except Australia. Pitesky also attributes the increased risk of outbreaks to climate change, which disrupts the migratory patterns of wild birds. Exceptional rainfall throughout California last year created new waterfowl habitats near poultry farms.

In California alone, the outbreak has affected more than 7 million chickens in approximately 40 commercial flocks and 24 backyard flocks, according to the USDA. Industry officials are growing increasingly concerned about the possibility of backyard chickens becoming infected and spreading avian flu to commercial farms.

As the avian flu outbreak continues to unfold, experts urge owners of backyard chickens to take precautions. Rodrigo Gallardo, a researcher at UC Davis specializing in avian influenza, advises owners to wear clean clothes and shoes to prevent the spread of the virus. If a higher-than-usual number of chickens die, they should be tested for avian flu.

For Mike Weber and Sunrise Farms, the road to recovery will be challenging. While two farms co-owned by the company remain unaffected and continue to produce eggs, the process of rebuilding the flock will take several months. Weber hopes to gain approval from federal regulators to reintroduce chicks to the farm this spring, with another five months required for the hens to mature enough to lay eggs.

The battle against avian flu in California's poultry farms highlights the far-reaching implications of this devastating disease, causing significant economic losses, impacting both commercial and backyard flocks and reinforcing the need for enhanced preventive measures to protect the industry.

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