KANSAS CITY - The spread of avian flu is prompting more than just a crackdown on poultry auctions and shows in Missouri.
It's also resulted in the destruction of large groups of chickens and turkeys at commercial food facilities, according to Missouri State Veterinarian Steve Strubberg.
"The commercial flocks have been destroyed to control the virus," he says. "Once the virus gets into those large flocks, usually it is uncontrollable."
He says the biggest risk is to chicken and turkeys, but sometimes ducks can be vulnerable. The virus, he says, multiplies rapidly and can easily spread to neighboring flocks.
But he tells KMOX's Total Information AM the virus often arrives at these farms in the first place through migrating foul flying by. That's where people raising backyard chickens for eggs needs to be concerned, Strubberg says.
"Often a lot of our backyard producers will be affected if they have a pond near where their chickens and ducks go," he explains. He recommends making sure the area is covered and inaccessible from overhead.
"Thankfully the virus has been a pretty low risk to humans," Strubberg says. "Our food is safe."