Bird flu devastates California hatchery, thousands of birds lost

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A California hatchery is experiencing severe losses as the bird flu continues to devastate its operations. The facility, located in Monterey County, has been forced to euthanize tens of thousands of ducks and geese.

Speaking to KSBW, business owner John Metzer revealed that the November outbreak resulted in the destruction of both birds and thousands of eggs. He emphasized the highly contagious nature of the virus, explaining that once it infiltrates a farm, total depopulation becomes necessary due to its rapid spread.

BIRDS DESTROYED: More than 13,000 ducks and geese were put down, and 90,000 eggs were destroyed at a California hatchery after bird flu was detected. https://t.co/aecq36ZBn5

— Local 3 News (@Local3News) December 21, 2024

“And it spreads like wildfire so if it comes onto a farm, you can’t just destroy all the birds in one building that were infected there; it spreads so easily that everything on the farm has to be put down,” he explained.

The situation has prompted California Governor Gavin Newsom to declare a state of emergency. His office stated: “Governor Gavin Newsom today proclaimed a State of Emergency to streamline and expedite the state’s response to Avian influenza A (H5N1), commonly known as ‘Bird Flu.’ This action comes as cases were detected in dairy cows on farms in Southern California, signaling the need to further expand monitoring and build on the coordinated statewide approach to contain and mitigate the spread of the virus. The virus has spread in 16 states among dairy cattle, following its first confirmed detection in Texas and Kansas in March 2024.”

The impact extends beyond California. In Texas, Cal-Maine Foods, Inc., the country’s largest fresh egg producer, recently suspended operations after detecting the virus. The Mississippi-based company confirmed the loss of approximately 1.6 million laying hens and 337,000 pullets at their Parmer County facility.

Metzer, who suspects migrating ducks as potential carriers, described the devastating impact on his operation. The loss of over 13,000 birds has created significant challenges, particularly regarding future egg production. He expressed concern about meeting customer demands and potentially needing to source eggs elsewhere.

Juan Hidalgo, Monterey County Agricultural Commissioner, provided insight into the seasonal nature of the outbreak. “Typically, it’s during the winter months when avian influenza is more prevalent here in California,” he explained. “The cooler weather, the migration of the birds in the fall, all of that has an impact, so we still have a ways to go here in our state to hopefully be able to get a handle and control of this virus.”

To combat the spread, Metzer’s team has implemented stringent measures, and their website now features comprehensive biosecurity guidelines for disease prevention.