Avian Flu Prompts Emergency Declaration

The U.S. government has approved the use of an additional $330 million in emergency funds to help contain the avian flu outbreak—the worst in U.S. history—and governors of two farming states have issued orders that mobilize state resources and streamline state responses.

Iowa Gov. Terry E. Branstad (R) and Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton (D) issued the orders in the wake of millions of poultry deaths in their states.

In Minnesota, the largest producer of U.S. turkeys, state officials said 5.6 million turkeys and egg-laying chickens have either died from the flu virus or were to be killed in an effort to contain the outbreak. In Iowa, the top U.S. egg producer, state officials said an estimated 20 million chickens and turkeys have been affected.

The outbreak has spread to 16 states in five months and to two Canadian provinces. Nationwide, poultry deaths have risen to 32 million.

The USDA told Reuters news agency that federal funds became available after the Office of Management and Budget granted U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack’s request for additional emergency funds. Reuters said the outbreak’s economic effects are being felt in several sectors, including food companies seeing a squeeze on egg supplies and meat processors flooded with excess poultry products amid market export bans.  S