The discovery of a form of bird flu in Maryland has prompted the slaughter of 328-thousand birds on two huge commercial chicken farms. That’s nearly four times the number killed when two Delaware farms were infected last month.
The slaughter began today, and is expected to take until Tuesday.
Authorities say the cases in Delaware and on Maryland’s Eastern Shore are from the same H-7 strain, which is not harmful to humans.
Maryland agriculture officials immediately ordered a quarantine that covers eight farms within a two-mile radius of the infected farm and began testing 79 poultry farms within a six-mile radius.
Officials emphasize that while the strain is not a threat to humans, it can wipe out poultry farms -- especially if it turns up in a highly pathogenic form.
The flu case dims hopes that international markets banning U.S. poultry will drop their embargoes.