Recent U.S. Avian Influenza Outbreak is a Concern For Public Health

Mar 01, 2022

A contagious and deadly form of avian influenza has spread across multiple states in recent weeks. The highly infectious virus has killed many farmed poultry and wild birds.

Since early January, the virus began killing chickens in northeast Canada, and it has made its way through factory farms and migrating ducks, geese, and swans from Florida to Maine. The virus has also been making its way through Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, with 300 outbreaks in 19 European countries in the last few weeks. In Israel, thousands of cranes have been killed at a nature reserve.

It has also made thousands of turkeys sick in Kentucky and Indiana, which began a mass slaughter of the birds and import bans. Officials were shocked at how efficiently and quickly this virus is killing the animals, saying the animals are dying within hours of the initial infection. In Indiana, according to NY Times, the state officials have already euthanized more than 100,000 birds.

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Video: What Causes Ear Necrosis in Pigs? - Alison Jeffery

In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Alison Jeffery, a PhD candidate at the University of Saskatchewan, discusses emerging research on ear necrosis in pigs. She explains the role of Fusobacterium necrophorum, how ear biting may introduce bacteria into damaged tissue, and what researchers are learning about disease progression, welfare, prevention, and future management tools. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Ear necrosis is not only an infectious disease challenge, it is also a welfare issue shaped by behavior, tissue damage, and the farm environment."

Meet the guest: Alison Jeffery / alison-jeffery is a PhD candidate in Large Animal Clinical Sciences at the University of Saskatchewan. Her research focuses on improving swine health and welfare by understanding and mitigating ear necrosis in pigs. Her background includes swine research, producer support, laboratory work, and studies in animal science and veterinary microbiology. Learn more from Alison Jeffery on The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, available on all major platforms.