Chickens at a plant in Texas’ panhandle have examined optimistic chook flu ensuing within the slaughter of 1.6 million hens and 337,000 pullets (young hens).
Human case of the chook flu confirmed in Texas
A person in Texas has been recognized with chook flu, an an infection tied to the recent discovery of the virus in dairy cows, well being officers mentioned.
Fox – 26 Houston
The largest provider of eggs within the United States halted manufacturing after chickens at a Texas plant examined optimistic for the extremely contagious chook flu – the latest in a spike of circumstances throughout the nation.
Cal-Maine Foods on Tuesday introduced chickens at its facility in Parmer County, within the state’s southwestern panhandle, examined optimistic for pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) leading to slaughter of practically 2 million chickens − 1.6 million hens and 337,000 pullets (young hens).
The announcement lower than 24 hours after the Centers for Disease Control reported a person in Texas had been contaminated with the virus after coming into shut contact with dairy cattle and simply over per week after sick dairy cattle in Texas and Kansas examined optimistic for the virus.
The culled Texas chickens characterize about 3.6% of the corporate’s whole flock as of Tuesday, the provider wrote in a information launch.
Production on the Texas facility briefly ceased whereas the corporate follows the protocols prescribed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the corporate mentioned.
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Cal-Maine Foods is largest producer of eggs within the nation
Headquartered in Ridgeland, Mississippi, Cal-Maine Foods is the largest producer and distributor of fresh shell eggs in the nation and mentioned it sells most of its eggs in states throughout the Southwest, Southeast, Midwest and MidAtlantic.
The firm mentioned it “stays devoted to strong biosecurity applications throughout its areas; nevertheless, no farm is immune from HPAI. HPAI continues to be current within the wild chook inhabitants and the extent of doable future outbreaks, with heightened threat through the migration seasons, can’t be predicted.”
Cal-Maine Foods mentioned it was working “to safe manufacturing from different amenities” to attenuate disruption to its prospects.
Human case of chook flu present in Texas: Case comes on heels of outbreak of virus amongst cattle
Person contaminated with chook flu in Texas
In a separate information alert this week, the Texas Department of State Health Services reported the affected person grew to become “sick following contact with cows presumed to be contaminated with avian influenza” and that their main symptom was conjunctivitis, also called pink eye.
The person who examined optimistic for chook flu in Texas is barely the second recognized human case within the United States, state and federal officers mentioned this week.
Bird flu in dairy cattle in Kansas, Texas
Last week the USDA introduced final week HPAI had been present in unpasteurized medical samples of milk from sick cows at two dairy farms in Kansas and one in Texas, plus a swab from a dairy cow in Texas.
Wild migratory birds are believed to be the supply of the an infection, the USDA mentioned, and viral testing and epidemiologic efforts remained underway.
What is chook flu?
Bird flu is a illness brought on by a household of flu viruses primarily transmitted amongst birds.
Avian influenza viruses, in keeping with the CDC and USDA, are labeled into two teams: low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) (usually seen in wild birds) and HPAI, discovered principally in home poultry. According to the CDC, LPAI viruses trigger gentle or no illness, and HPAI trigger extreme illness and excessive mortality charges in contaminated birds.
Bird flu has cost the federal government roughly $660 million and in recent instances raised the value of eggs and poultry. At least 58 million birds have been slaughtered final 12 months to restrict the unfold of the virus.
Bird flu unfold to people is low threat, USDA says
The first case of avian influenza in a person within the United States was reported in Colorado in April 2022.
Federal and state well being authorities are investigating the outbreaks, and the USDA mentioned the danger to most of the people contracting is low because the viruses have solely hardly ever been transmitted from person to person.
“However, folks with shut contact with affected animals suspected of getting avian influenza A have the next threat of an infection,” Texas well being officers wrote in a news alert earlier this week.
Bird flu signs in people
Human an infection with the chook flu can occur throughout shut contact with contaminated birds or when folks contact sick birds or their saliva, mucus and feces, the CDC mentioned. People contract the virus when it will get right into a their eyes, nostril or mouth, or when it’s inhaled.
Those who contract the virus usually expertise gentle sicknesses together with a watch an infection and higher respiratory signs or no signs in any respect, whereas others can develop a extreme generally deadly illness like pneumonia.
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What are indicators of chook flu?
Indications a bird may be infected with avian influenza embrace:
- Loss of urge for food, lethargy
- Sudden dying with out prior signs
- Eyelid swelling
- Twisting of the pinnacle and neck
- Purple discoloration to physique elements together with waddle and legs
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and observe her on X @nataliealund.
