California agriculture faces significant losses as avian flu outbreak spreads. 'It's a mess'

"It's a mess," said Bill Mattos, president of the California Poultry Federation. "Everyone is on high alert when it comes to bio-security measures."

The virus is often fatal to poultry and spreads quickly among an infected flock. Without a cure, the only way to contain the virus is to depopulate all the affected and exposed chickens or turkeys.

One of the largest depopulations recently took place in Kern County where 2.1 million egg layers were destroyed. On Thursday, state officials confirmed bird flu at a Fresno County turkey ranch with 17,500 birds and in Merced County with 53,200 turkeys.

Poultry operators are using multiple bio security steps to prevent the virus from spreading, especially limiting who comes onto their farms, disinfecting common areas and wearing personal protective equipment.

Read at Sacramento Bee