This week, a cat in Iowa tested positive for bird flu (highly pathogenic avian influenza). In late December, Iowa reported the first human case of avian influenza in the state. The virus has been confirmed on hundreds of chicken, turkey and dairy farms across the country. Although there has not yet been a confirmed case on a fur farm in the U.S., infected wild mink and foxes have been found in many states, and there have been bird flu outbreaks on fur farms in Finland and Spain.
The virus is spread by contact with infected wild birds, cats, skunks, raccoons, or other animals. Fur Commission USA claims that mink farmers follow “strict biosecurity measures… as mink are highly susceptible to a range of diseases originating from both humans and wildlife.” But we’ve found that this is often not the case! This video was taken recently at the Conrad mink farm in Keota, Iowa. The farm doesn’t even have a fence, much less the lockable gates, electrified wires, and footbaths, that FCUSA recommends to reduce the risk of people and wildlife carrying infectious diseases entering farms. With biosecurity like this, it is only a matter of time before there is a bird flu outbreak on a fur farm in the U.S.
Can you spot the cat in the video?