Watch them die': Bird flu outbreak at Utah mink farm largely unchecked, advocates say
Advocates say a bird flu outbreak at a Utah mink farm has gone largely unchecked, raising serious concerns about the welfare of thousands of animals and potential public health risks.
"It's a horrific situation," Kim Sturla of the Animal Legal Defense Fund told The Salt Lake Tribune. "We're seeing reports of high mortality rates, with minks dying by the thousands."
The outbreak, which was first reported in October, has so far affected at least two farms in Utah. While state and federal authorities have taken some measures to contain the disease, advocates argue that response has been inadequate.
"The state's efforts thus far have been woefully insufficient," said Sturla. "We're calling on them to do more to protect these animals from suffering and to prevent the spread of this deadly disease."