MADISON, WI (WTAQ) – Wisconsin officials say there’s no evidence that any humans have gotten sick from eating turkey or chicken infested with the avian flu.
Officials say it’s why entire flocks are killed and taken out of the food chain, when an instance of the bird flu strikes at a poultry farm.
Even so, a legislator in neighboring Minnesota told his colleagues Tuesday he got sick after eating turkey — and he later apologized for what he did on the House floor. Democratic Representative Ron Erhardt of Edina wore a doctor’s white lab coat, saying he was looking to help people after they ingest what he called a “possible poison.”
He was shaking a jar of what was called “flu vaccine” when some other lawmakers ordered the act to a halt. They said turkey farmers are suffering, and their product is indeed safe for human consumption.
The scene occurred on the same day that Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton and the state House speaker served burgers at a turkey feed on the State Capitol’s front lawn in St. Paul. Minnesota has reported over 80 cases of the avian flu, and Wisconsin has had 10.
The outbreaks have affected over 5 million birds in the Gopher State, and 1.7 million in the Badger State.
(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)
