Why experts say Merced County was hit hard by a nationwide bird flu outbreak
In California, the tally exceeds 7 million euthanized birds, with more than half of those – about 4.2 million – in Merced County alone.

By KERRY KLEIN/KVPR
For two years, a massive nationwide outbreak of avian influenza has wreaked havoc on the nation’s poultry. Since February 2022, more than 80 million birds have been euthanized around the country.
The hardest hit states include Iowa and Ohio. In California, the tally exceeds 7 million euthanized birds, with more than half of those – about 4.2 million – in Merced County alone.
“It’s a huge number, yes,” said Merced County Agricultural Commissioner Sean Runyon.
Most of those were egg-laying hens, but some were chickens raised for meat as well as turkeys, ducks, and various backyard flocks. Also known as bird flu, avian influenza is extremely contagious, highly fatal to birds, and it renders all meat and eggs from the flock unsafe for human consumption.
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