The facility in western Ohio was licensed to house about 280,000 young hens raised to lay eggs. The destruction came amid egg shortages linked to an avian influenza outbreak.
In recent months, bird flu has started raising red flags among scientists and public health officials. Apoorva Mandavilli, a New York Times reporter who covers infectious diseases, explains why we need to start taking bird flu seriously.
A pandemic is not inevitable, scientists say. But the outbreak has passed worrisome milestones in recent weeks, including cattle that may have been reinfected.
The highly infectious H5N1 strain has caused outbreaks across the country. Now, Long Islandβs last duck farm must kill its entire flock and may go out of business, its owner said.
The administration is committing an additional $306 million toward battling the virus, and will distribute the money before President-elect Donald J. Trump takes office.
Tiny genetic alterations could help the bird flu virus enter cells in the upper respiratory tract, the C.D.C. said. But there is no sign that mutations are widespread in nature.