Beware the chickens

Dear Editor,

Recently, a Wyoming woman from Platte County was hospitalized after handling infected backyard chickens, and a man in Louisiana tragically died after exposure to infected backyard flocks and wild birds. As a concerned Wyoming resident, I'm shocked that Rock Springs is considering an ordinance allowing backyard chickens despite the serious public health risks from the avian flu outbreak. This virus has killed nearly 150 million birds nationwide, severely reducing egg production and causing egg prices to skyrocket.

In Wyoming, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has already been detected in backyard flocks in Washakie, Sheridan, and Platte counties. I raised these concerns at the Rock Springs City Council meeting on March 4, 2025, highlighting the connection between rising egg prices and the public health risks of the avian flu crisis. Human infections are rare but still occur, and the consequences may be severe. Now is not the time to pass new ordinances allowing backyard chickens.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Collins recently announced a $1 billion plan to combat the outbreak, with $500 million explicitly for biosecurity. However, many people may get chickens for cheaper, fresher eggs while neglecting critical biosecurity measures, increasing the spread of bird flu and the risk of human infection. Cost concerns may prevent some owners from seeking vet care, leaving sick birds untreated and putting the community at risk. Dr. Harrist, Wyoming state health officer,  urges residents to avoid wild birds and watch for avian flu signs like coughing, lethargy, loss of appetite, and sudden death in their birds.

I urge cities across Wyoming, including Rock Springs, to prioritize public health by rejecting new proposals allowing backyard chickens. We can't wait for more residents to get sick, be hospitalized, or die before acting to protect our community.

Sincerely,

Madhu Anderson

Rock Springs, WY

(702-624-7832)

References:

https://www.thefencepost.com/news/hpai-confirmed-in-3-wyoming-backyard-flocks/

https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2025-02-15/woman-hospitalized-in-wyoming-with-bh5n1-bird-flu?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR04r337n_g3t7B0VFlRGf9vymRe4LOBMll-RRak0_hE6IlMUpTr22qNC_o_aem_Lqw3BUYYEOCVN_ikO4j0rA

https://ldh.la.gov/news/H5N1-death#:~:text=The%20Louisiana%20Department%20of%20Health,infected%20with%20bird%20flu%20viruses.

https://www.oklahomafarmreport.com/okfr/2025/02/26/usda-invests-up-to-1-billion-to-combat-avian-flu-and-reduce-egg-prices-2/

https://health.wyo.gov/wyomings-first-human-bird-flu-case-confirmed/

https://www.wattagnet.com/poultry-meat/diseases-health/avian-influenza/news/15737768/wyoming-woman-hospitalized-with-h5n1#:~:text=She%20is%20believed%20to%20have,H5N1%20in%20the%20United%20States

https://abcnews.go.com/US/grocery-stores-limit-egg-purchases-thefts-increase-bird-flu/story?id=118732180#:~:text=Log%20In-,Grocery%20stores%20limit%20egg%20purchases%2C%20thefts%20increase%20as%20bird%20flu,spread%2C%20egg%20prices%20have%20increased.&text=Thieves%20begin%20targeting%20eggsThe,latest%20figures%20from%20the%20USDA.

https://news.ucr.edu/articles/2025/02/13/qa-soaring-egg-prices#:~:text=As%20the%20spread%20of%20bird,of%20microbiology%20and%20plant%20pathology.