Nebraska landfill denies Iowa poultry carcasses

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  Andrea Gantz

  A Nebraska landfill denied a request to take several million poultry carcasses from Iowa, fearing the spread of avian influenza.

  From WATTAgNet:
  The owner of a private landfill in Eastern Nebraska has denied a request from federal officials seeking a location to dispose of millions of poultry carcasses from Iowa.
  The number of birds – mostly commercial layer hens and commercial turkeys – that have died in Iowa continues to grow as a result of avian influenza cases in the state. The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed 5 new cases of avian influenza on May 10, and on May 7, the federal agency reported 7 new avian influenza cases – adding to the already millions of birds that have died or been stamped out as a result of the avian influenza outbreak.
  Leonard Gill, owner of the L.P. Gill Landfill, located near Jackson, Nebraska, said he had earlier considered a request to take some of the bird carcasses, but decided against it because state officials had advised he not accept them. The decision was ultimately Gill’s to make, but he shared concerns that taking the carcasses could increase the risk of the virus’ spread into Nebraska.
  While every state that borders Nebraska except Colorado has had confirmed cases of avian influenza, the virus had evaded Nebraska until APHIS confirmed H5N2 avian influenza in a commercial layer flock in Dixon County, Nebraska. With the discovery, Nebraska became the 20th state with a confirmed avian influenza case.
  To keep updated on the latest confirmed cases of avian influenza in North American poultry flocks, see WATTAgNet’s avian influenza map. Also, bookmark the avian influenza page, which offers news updates and analysis of the global avian influenza situation.