South Dakota has kicked off “bird flu season” by slaughtering 134,000 turkeys. The turkeys spanned three facilities and were killed in response to an outbreak of the HPAI (highly pathogenic avian influenza).
The only other state reporting confirmed infections in commercial flocks during the last 30 days is North Dakota, where 60,300 turkeys have been killed in response, according to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
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According to a report by South Dakota Searchlight, these detected infections should be a warning to health officials. Positive bird flu tests this early in the season are troubling, according to Beth Thompson, South Dakota’s state veterinarian. The peak avian influenza seasons typically coincide with the fall and spring migration of wild birds, which can carry the virus without becoming sick. The spread of bird flu before those migrations begin is concerning.
“I have not seen any information so far that major wild bird migrations have started,” Thompson said. “That is not a good sign.” Thompson additionally declared South Dakota to be on the “leading edge” when it comes to tackling the outbreak of bird flu as further possible infections are investigated.
South Dakota’s first seasonal bird flu infection was confirmed on August 28th in Faulk County, where 55,400 turkeys had to be killed, followed by a September 2nd case in Beadle County, where 52,600 birds were culled. The third outbreak was in McPherson County, causing 26,900 birds to be euthanized.
Some health officials have said culling is a failed policy and should cease, while natural immunity should take its course.
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Thompson said “foaming” is the most common method used in turkey barns, where foam is sprayed atop turkeys inside the barn to suffocate them until they die. It does not sound like a humane solution, as the birds likely suffer until they are suffocated.
She also said federal law requires producers to carry out the “depopulation process” with assistance from federal and state officials. These officials oversee the culling, with the federal government covering losses through indemnity payments. Those payments have totaled more than $1 billion nationally since 2020, according to analysis by CBS News, including about $130 million in South Dakota.
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