LOS ANGELES, April 7 (Xinhua) -- A highly pathogenic avian flu virus is spreading across U.S. farms and chicken yards, sprawling to at least 24 states in the country less than two months after the first outbreak was reported in a commercial flock.

       More than 22.8 million birds have been affected and had to be put to death in the past two months because of the influenza Type A virus, known as influenza A, according to data of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

       It is the worst outbreak of the avian flu in the United States since 2015, when more than 50 million birds died, said a report of NPR.

       The avian flu is reported in 147 commercial and backyard flocks in 24 U.S. states as of Tuesday, infecting 22,851,072 poultry, according to the latest data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

       Meanwhile, the highly pathogenic avian influenza A virus has been detected in 593 wild birds in 31 U.S. states, CDC data showed.

       The worsening of the outbreak is driving up consumer prices for eggs and chicken meat in the country.

       The risk to the general public's health from the current bird flu virus is low, according to the CDC. However, some people may have job-related or recreational exposures to birds that put them at higher risk of infection.

       The CDC said it is watching the situation closely and taking routine preparedness and prevention measures in case this virus changes to pose a greater human health risk.