WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA (RFD News) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $2 million into a new effort aimed at slowing the spread of Highly-Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).
A Purdue University research team is testing an anti-viral fogging system designed to target the virus in the air and on surfaces inside poultry facilities.
Researchers say the technology uses a natural oil compound that can disrupt the HPAI virus’s spread. They hope the new approach could give farmers a practical tool to better protect flocks and prevent future outbreaks.
Since the beginning of the bird flu outbreak in 2021-2022, HPAI has led to the culling of more than 90 million birds in the U.S. since 2022, resulting in losses in the billions for U.S. poultry and egg producers.
