More Than 400,000 Turkeys Killed In U.S. Due To Bird Flu

South Dakota has become the U.S. epicenter for the current outbreak of avian influenza with %Turkeys being particularly hard hit.

The situation has resulted in a massive cull of turkey flocks at farms throughout South Dakota, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

With nearly half a million turkeys killed, analysts say it could result in a shortage of the birds as we head into the year-end Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, driving prices higher.

Major processors of turkeys in the U.S. include companies such as Cargill, %TysonFoods (NYSE: $TSN), and %KraftHeinz (NASDAQ: $KHC).

The USDA and authorities in South Dakota expect the situation with the avian influenza outbreak to worsen as the disease spread tends to peak in late fall and early winter.

Bird flu is also likely to spread further in the U.S. and elsewhere as birds begin migrating south for the winter months.

While the risk of bird flu spreading to humans remains low, the USDA is urging people to cook meat to an internal temperature of at least 165°F to help kill any bacteria or disease.

U.S. federal government compensation to farmers for losses due to avian influenza have totaled more than $1 billion U.S. since 2020, including about $130 million U.S. paid in South Dakota.

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