Nebraska orders STATE OF EMERGENCY over H5N2 avian flu virus

The deadly bird flu has infected another farm.

A type of avian flu, and unfortunately the most lethal to hit the United States, has posed several concerns for farmers and scientists. So far, the H5N2 strain of the bird flu virus has already killed 15,000 turkeys in Minnesota alone. Now, over 33 million birds in 16 states have been affected by the H5N2 virus.

MUNTINLUPA, PHILIPPINES (Catholic Online) - A state of emergency has been ordered by Nebraskan Governor, Pete Ricketts on Thursday after Nebraska's Department of Agriculture declared and confirmed that the highly communicable H5N2 avian flu virus contaminated another farm. The declaration opens up emergency funding in hopes it can help contain the pathogen.

The virus, according to local officials, now threatens the $1.1 billion poultry industry in Nebraska.

Governor Pete Ricketts said that, "While not a human health threat, the discovery of avian influenza is a serious situation for our poultry sector, and I want to provide responders with access to all appropriate tools to address it."

The declaration follows similar actions taken in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa. The outbreak started within a small backyard flock located in Oregon. Now, more than 33 million birds in 16 states have been affected by the H5N2 bird flu virus.

The price of large eggs in the Midwest has inflated by 17 percent since April and other price increases are becoming apparent in turkey, boneless breast meat and mixing eggs.

According to health authorities, the H5N2 bird flu virus presents a low risk to humans. To date, bird flu infections have been identified in humans around the globe.

The deadly bird flu strain was first found in a huge flock of commercial turkeys in Pope County, Minnesota. Only less than 100 turkeys were left uninfected by the bird flu strain on that particular Minnesota farm. The flock was immediately quarantined and stricken birds killed.

The same virus strain has reportedly been detected in birds in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.

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