In Nebraska, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa, National Guard soldiers have an assignment they never expected. They're helping to dispose of tens of millions of dead birds — turkeys and egg-laying chickens that are dying or being killed in order to stop the worst spread of bird flu in American history. Several countries have banned imports of US poultry. But only birds are infected, and chickens raised for their meat aren't involved — so far. We hear about wild-bird migrations, factory farms and a threat to a multi-billion-dollar industry.
The Biggest Outbreak of Bird Flu in American History
More
- National Association of Egg Farmers on misinformation on egg production practices
- Humane Society on bird flu as one marker of sickness in industrial agriculture
- National Animal Health Emergency Response Corps on avian influenza
- USDA reminder for backyard poultry owners to protect their birds
- Mother Jones on how the new bird flue outbreak could affect people
Credits
Guests:
- P.J. Huffstutter - Reuters - @PJHuffstutter1
- Sarah Parvini - Los Angeles Times - @ParviniParlance
- Kent Klippen - National Association of Egg Farmers
- Michael Greger - Humane Society of the United States - @HumaneSociety
- Richard French - Becker College - @BeckerNews