Hunt Club Farm in Virginia Beach is temporarily closed after positive bird flu tests – Richmond Times -Dispatch

The location of the farm and the events announced on Friday on Facebook that the disease was probably brought there by migrating birds and that the affected areas were “immediately driven and disinfected.”

“The health and safety of our animals, employees and the community have always been and remain our primary priority,” the statement said. “Although there is a very low risk of people who become infected with the virus, we are closely monitoring the health of our staff.”

It is believed that this outbreak of bird flu in the United States began in 2022. It is constantly spreading to all 50 states, as well as some large dairy herds. It is believed to have cost the home industry more than $ 1 billion lost revenue and its effects on chickens and attempts to stop distribution are responsible for the high cost of eggs across the country.

Dr. Patrick Jackson, an expert on infectious diseases at the Medical Center of the University of Virginia, said on Friday that the most risky human population is those working in the agricultural space, such as livestock workers, farmers who come in contact with birds And households with chickens in the backyard. For people who may not be in contact with birds often, like office workers, Jackson said at this point, there is a very little need to change your daily procedures.

“We just haven’t seen him transmitted from person to person, but if the virus is able to overcome this barrier, adapt to people and be able to pass on from man to man, this is really when you start seeing a big change,” said Jackson.

Last week, President Trump ordered communications from federal health agencies – including National Health Institutes and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – until an examination was carried out. Jackson said health workers often refer to the weekly CDC or MMWR mortality report every week for the most directions and news on infectious diseases. At the moment, Jackson said one has not been published since January 2, creating a “very uncertainty.”

“What really needs to happen at the moment is CDC to work closely with state and local health departments and agricultural departments to make good monitoring for what is happening with wild bird populations, in livestock, collection Information and human cases and then disseminate this information about the wider community, “Jackson said. “I think it is not clear at the moment, given the latest changes in DC, what parts of these activities are still happening in CDC and how this communication comes out. I think this uncertainty puts us in a more difficult situation. “

CDC is currently reporting 67 human influenza infections and one death. In Virginia, the Ministry of Health from Virginia reports cases of bird flu in chicken flocks on the east coast. In the Zoo Richmond, two cranes died after testing the positive earlier this month.