Water levels will allow a farm season in 2023 (Photo by Carmen Troesser )
TAYLORSVILLE, Utah — Three additional cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) have been confirmed on turkey farms in Sanpete County by the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food.
With the new cases of avian influenza, there are now 11 farms in central Utah with impacts from the disease.
UDAF says to prevent the further spread of the disease, all turkeys at these locations have been “depopulated.”
Additionally, the UDAF says more than 400,000 turkeys have died or been euthanized as a result of the disease.
The UDAF says the number of turkey losses is significant for the farms. However, it is not expecting food shortages with the current numbers.
The UDAF is closely watching the ongoing situation with avian influenza on turkey farms in Sanpete County.
Recently, the UDAF warned domestic bird owners that cases of avian influenza may increase as the migration season for wild waterfowl approaches. The UDAF is asking owners of domestic birds to take the necessary measures. These precautions include increasing their biosecurity measures and locking birds inside enclosures.
While the disease doesn’t present a health risk to humans, UDAF is recommending that the public stay away from locations where avian influenza has been confirmed.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, there has only been one confirmed human case in the United States.
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