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U.S. bird flu outbreak hits millions of egg-laying hens in Iowa

Most of the 3.8 million egg-laying hens in an Iowa flock probably have bird flu as the biggest single outbreak of the virus reported in the U.S. added to concerns that turkey and egg supplies will be hampered by the disease.

By Megan Durisin, Bloomberg, Shruti Date Singh, Bloomberg | Updated on April 22, 2015
The USDA has confirmed the presence of H5N2 avian influenza in three flocks in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa. (Photo: Shutterstock)

(Bloomberg) — Most of the 3.8 million egg-laying hens in an Iowa flock probably have bird flu as the biggest single outbreak of the virus reported in the U.S. added to concerns that turkey and egg supplies will be hampered by the disease.

“Despite best efforts, we now confirm many of our birds are testing positive” for avian influenza, closely held Sonstegard Foods Co. said in a statement dated April 20. The company said its Sunrise Farms unit close to Harris, Iowa, in Osceola County has 3.8 million hens. Commercial turkey flocks with more than 2 million birds in eight states have been reported with the virus by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

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