Dead cows on the side of the road shows aftermath of Bird Flu outbreak

TULARE COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- As of Friday afternoon, determination are 13 confirmed quality cases of the Bird flu successful the authorities and hundreds of infected cows.

In the South Valley, a disturbing tract of infected and diseased cows connected the broadside of the roadworthy sparked biosecurity concerns for section activists.

The video, which Crystal Heath captured connected the outskirts of Tulare County connected October 8th, shows the aftermath of a vertebrate flu outbreak.

Several dormant cows infected with Bird flu were recovered lying connected the broadside of the roadworthy for a mates of days.

"I was beauteous shocked to spot these cows conscionable lying determination uncovered retired successful the open," says Crystal.

She continues, "There were nary signs informing anybody of the biosecurity risks oregon informing that determination was adjacent an avian influenza outbreak."

Crystal, a veterinarian and the Executive Director of "Our Honor," an advocacy non-profit, says she's disquieted astir the spread.

"I was truly disquieted astir the flies. I don't deliberation it's been studied capable however flies whitethorn beryllium transmitting the virus. Or if wildlife tin declaration the microorganism by touching the mucus membranes of those dormant animals," Crystal says.

Western United Dairies represents the Tulare County Farm wherever the cows were found.

"It's precise unfortunate, successful this lawsuit the farmers person precise fewer options, you person to abstracted the sick cows from steadfast cows, and erstwhile they pass, successful bid to facilitate a process called rendering," says Anja Raudabaugh, CEO of Western United Dairies.

She says their protocol is: "They person to beryllium placed adjacent a nationalist roadworthy truthful that the rendering motortruck does not travel onto the dairy and perchance infect the steadfast calves."

Anja besides mentions, "The microorganism has been known astatine this constituent to beryllium transmitted connected thing called fomite transmission, truthful boots, shoes, tires, and overseas cars successful oregon astir there."

Anja says the flu has killed 10 to 15 percent of the state's 1.7 cardinal cows.

That's an uptick from the mean 1% yearly decease rate, and the caller vigor has worsened matters.

Another added interest is protecting employees.

"We are successful the process of grooming workers however to place signs and symptoms," says Anja.

Those signs see mild flu-like symptoms and conjunctivitis.

Employees besides person entree to idiosyncratic protective equipment.

But, activists accidental much needs to beryllium done.

"There are 17,500 dairy workers successful California, and we truly should beryllium doing much to marque definite they are protected and they are compensated erstwhile they person to instrumentality clip disconnected enactment truthful that they aren't frightened to beryllium tested for this virus," says Crystal.

Plus, "We're advocating for a redirection of nationalist funds distant from animal-based macromolecule and towards supporting animal-free methods of nutrient accumulation to heighten our nutrient information and nationalist health," Crystal expresses. Our reliance and dependence connected animal-based macromolecule truly puts america astatine hazard for pandemic viruses similar avian influenza."

Dairy products and beverage are a multibillion-dollar manufacture successful California.

For much details connected the Bird Flu virus, sojourn here.

For South Valley quality updates, travel Kassandra Gutierrez connected Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.