Due to a confirmed case of the extremely pathogenic avian flu, practically 2 million chickens had been culled. Here’s what we all know.
Human case of the fowl flu confirmed in Texas
A person in Texas has been identified with fowl flu, an an infection tied to the recent discovery of the virus in dairy cows, well being officers mentioned.
Fox – 26 Houston
Nearly 2 million chickens had been culled at a Cal-Maines Food plant, which is the biggest producer of eggs within the nation, positioned within the Texas Panhandle — following stories confirming a case of extremely pathogenic avian flu in a hen.
This improvement comes after recent stories of the first-known case of fowl flu in cattle round two weeks in the past and the primary human an infection of fowl flu in Texas, reported earlier this week.
Here’s what we all know concerning the ongoing outbreak.
Confirmed fowl flu case at Cal-Maines Food in Parmer County, Texas
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller confirmed a optimistic check for avian flu on the Cal-Main Foods, Inc. poultry facility in Farwell.
Consequently, the corporate was obligated to cull 1.6 million laying hens and 337,000 pullets, which make up roughly 3.6% of the corporate’s whole flock as of essentially the most recent report on March 2.
The facility has briefly halted manufacturing as the corporate implements protocols prescribed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, based on a launch.
“This is completely devastating information for Cal-Maine and your entire Panhandle area which has already suffered a lot already,” Miller mentioned in a launch. “Given this latest development, all producers must practice heightened biosecurity measures. The rapid spread of this virus means we must act quickly.”
What is bird flu, or avian flu?
The most recent outbreak of avian flu, also known as bird flu, was first identified in Europe in late 2020. Although the strain has existed for several decades — first identified in waterfowl in Southern China in 1996, according to the CDC — it has escalated in recent years. Symptoms of bird flu include:
- Loss of appetite, lethargy.
- Death without prior symptoms.
- Eyelid swelling.
- Twisting of the head and neck.
- Purple discoloration to body parts, including legs.
How many animals has the bird flu impacted in Texas this year?
The current virus has caused the deaths of more than 82 million animals globally, making it the poultry industry’s most significant blow since another major outbreak resulted in the deaths of over 50 million birds between 2014 and 2015.
The flu has impacted 82.04 million poultry and nearly 10,000 wild birds, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Additionally, sporadic cases have been reported in mammals, including livestock such as cattle and goats, as well as skunks.
In 2024, Texas has seen outbreaks that have impacted:
- 1,894,101 commercial poultry in Parmer County, reported on April 2
- 15 non-commercial backyard poultry in Deaf Smith County, reported on March 21
- 246 non-commercial backyard poultry in Moore County, reported on March 11
Wild birds may have infected Texas cows
As of Wednesday, there were reportedly seven dairy herds in Texas with positive cases. Officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture suspect that migrating wild birds infected cattle, as farms have reported finding dead wild birds on their properties.
There are also positive cases in two dairy facilities in Kansas, one facility in Michigan and one facility in New Mexico.
Close contact with infected cattle is likely cause for positive human case in Texas
The recent case marks the first human case of the highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza in Texas and the second in the U.S since the onset of this particular strain, H5N1 in 2020. Authorities at the National Veterinary Services Laboratories confirmed last week that there is no risk of transmissibility to humans, but the Texas-based individual was reportedly in close contact with the dairy cows that tested positive for bird flu in late March.
Federal and state health authorities are currently investigating the infection. However, according to the release, the risk to the general public remains relatively low, and human-to-human transmission is rare.
Will the bird flu outbreak impact milk or egg supply?
Currently, there is no concern regarding the safety of the commercial milk supply or the potential risk the outbreak might pose to consumer health. The USDA mandates that dairies must send only milk from healthy animals for human consumption processing. Milk from affected animals is being diverted or destroyed and does not enter the supply for human consumption.
Furthermore, pasteurization, which is a requirement for commercial milk, has a historical track record of effectively deactivating bacteria and viruses, such as Influenza.
As for egg products, it’s possible that the mass culling of poultry will impact the quantity of the egg supply. As is the case with dairy, it is not a risk for human consumption.
“The current risk to the public remains minimal,” Miller said within the launch. “It is necessary for us as an business to take care of a excessive stage of vigilance. State and nationwide businesses will proceed to supply up to date steering as developments warrant.”
