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Ohio Farmers Taking Precautions to Limit Avian Flu
By: Associated Press
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DAYTON, Ohio (AP) – Ohio egg farmers are taking extra steps to protect their flocks from the avian flu, which has led to 40 million dead birds in the United States.
The Dayton Daily News reports farmers are going to extremes to protect their birds in Darke County, the second-largest egg producing county in the country.
Vehicles going into egg and poultry farms are sprayed with disinfectant and workers’ shoes are hosed down. Officials are also monitoring backyard flocks for signs of the virus.
Agriculture officials say the flu caused egg prices to double in two weeks and could have an estimated $1 billion impact on Ohio’s economy.
Ohio State agriculture and natural resource educator Sam Custer says it’s not a question of “if,” but “when” the virus will affect Ohio farms.