Regarding the 2015 HPAI outbreak in the United States, which statement is true?

• A. The major impact was on commercial poultry producers, and other businesses were affected as well.
• B. The major impact was on commercial poultry producers only, with no impact on other businesses.
• C. Backyard flocks were the primary drivers of the outbreak.
• D. The outbreak did not affect wildlife or other sectors.

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is how a large avian influenza outbreak affects both the primary farming sector and the broader economy. In 2015, the United States saw the biggest direct losses on commercial poultry producers, with extensive depopulation, quarantines, and production stoppages driving substantial economic damage within that sector. But the impact didn’t stop there: processing plants, hatcheries, feed mills, equipment suppliers, transport and other support industries felt the ripple effects, and trade restrictions and consumer/shipping consequences extended the hit beyond farmers to related businesses and even regional economies.

Backyard flocks contributed to spread in some areas, but they were not the primary drivers of the outbreak’s scale. Wildlife were involved in spreading and maintaining the virus in wild bird populations, which prompted wildlife surveillance and control measures—another facet of the broader impact, not a sole driver of the event. Given that, the statement that best captures the situation is that the major impact was on commercial poultry producers, with other businesses affected as well.