Illinois poultry farms brace as bird flu grips Midwest

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Illinois poultry farms on high alert as bird flu has the state surrounded - there are no cases reported yet but state officials are taking preventative measures.

It's been more than 10 years since the last big bird flu outbreak in Illinois. State agriculture officials are trying to prevent 2015 from going into the record books as the latest eruption of the virus.

The concern is that commercial bird flocks in other Midwestern states are seeing signs of a bird flu epidemic, disrupting poultry production and egg supplies.

In Minnesota, new restrictions are in place on bird exhibits - including the one at this year's State Fair. So far, six million birds have died here from the avian flu, leading the Minnesota Board of Animal Health to crack down on bird exhibits.

"Educating people about where their food comes from is our central mission. Sadly the birds won't be here but the poultry barn still will have exhibits on poultry, on its impact on Minnesota's economy and all if does for all of us," said Jerry Hammer, manager, Minnesota State Fair.

In Iowa, the state is coming up on one month since the first confirmed case of avian bird flu. It is up to 44 cases and euthanizing more than 25 million birds to prevent the spread while labs works to create a vaccine.

This research company produced successful vaccinations for the H1N1 human flu and also the recent pig virus.

"We've already put this type of technology in bird with flu genes but we need to show it exactly with H5, this strain," said Dr. Hank Harris, Harris vaccines.

As the bird flu approaches from the west, Illinois agriculture officials have started to alert poultry farmers of the avian influenza threat while federal authorities have spent the last several years gearing up for a bird flu outbreak.

In Nebraska, more than one million chickens are affected. Poultry and waterfowl are at risk and the virus spreads bird-to-bird - sometimes before there are symptoms. It can also be spread by equipment, clothing or shoes.

The Centers for Disease Control considers the risk to humans as low. This is an economic issue for thousands of farmers, restaurants and eventually consumers.