The following statement on South Dakota’s avian flu outbreak may be attributed to Walter Sánchez-Suárez, Animal Behavior and Welfare Scientist at Mercy For Animals:
This latest outbreak, on a South Dakota turkey farm, clearly indicates the severity of the H5N1 avian influenza epidemic that has ravaged U.S. poultry farms since 2022. The persistence of highly pathogenic avian influenza in poultry and dairy farms at this time of year is deeply concerning for the coming months, when incidence of this infectious disease typically increases.
These more than 55,000 turkeys add to the nearly 175 million birds that have been culled on farms since the beginning of the epidemic. The methods used cause profound animal suffering and have serious economic repercussions for producers and consumers. What’s more, due to possible interspecies transmission, this practice poses a worrying risk of epidemics in humans and other animal species.
Mercy For Animals demands rapid implementation of effective measures to end this dangerous epidemic and cruel culling as soon as possible. This means replacing the primary catalyst of the epidemic, the industrial animal agriculture model, with safe, efficient and sustainable food production that contributes to the well-being of everyone.
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Mercy For Animals’ 2023 undercover investigation into two Minnesota turkey farms revealed birds crammed into warehouses and suffering untreated injuries. Such overcrowded conditions and lack of proper veterinary care cause immense suffering and create breeding grounds for H5N1. Our findings and the recent South Dakota outbreak expose systemic failures in the turkey industry and the urgent need to replace factory farming with a system that prioritizes animal welfare.
Key scientific concerns include the following:
- High fatality and culling rates: H5N1 is almost universally lethal in poultry, and without a reliable vaccine, mass culling remains the primary containment strategy—causing immense suffering for confined animals.
- Cross-species spread: The virus’s presence in wild species and domestic mammals highlights the porous boundaries between industrial farming and natural ecosystems that create opportunities for mutation and cross-species transmission.
- Industry vulnerability: The recurrence of outbreaks, even outside peak flu season, demonstrates the fragility of factory-farming systems and raises questions about their long-term sustainability.
