Nebraska escapes avian flu outbreak

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - Hundreds of thousands of chickens and turkeys have been destroyed in the Midwest because of bird flu but Nebraska, amazingly, hasn’t had one case.

Nebraska Director of Agriculture Greg Ibach says it’s pure luck.

Iback says avian influenza is attributed to ducks, geese, cranes or any migratory birds going north this spring.  He says Nebraska is in the middle of the one the largest flyways in the nation.            

Officials say even small, homegrown poultry flocks are susceptible to avian flu.