Insight – Increased human protections offered as H5N2 outbreak spreads

By P.J. Huffstutter and Julie Steenhuysen CHICAGO (Reuters) – Hundreds of farm workers exposed to a highly pathogenic strain of bird flu have been offered antiviral medication as a preventative measure in recent days, U.S. public health officials said.     To date, the virulent H5N2 influenza, which has infected turkeys and chickens on Midwestern poultry farms, has not affected humans. It is already aware of $60 million in indemnity claims that will be made by poultry farmers seeking compensation for culled flocks.     Meanwhile, in Minnesota, state officials say the virus is being discovered on three to four new poultry farms each day.     HUNT FOR ANSWERS     Iowa, the top U.S. egg-producing state, has seen the largest number of affected birds to date: The strain was identified in an egg-laying facility with 3.8 million hens earlier this month.     Wisconsin, which has to cull hundreds of thousands of birds because of the outbreak, declared a state of emergency last week.
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