The culling of 1000’s of birds at a Jaindl turkey farm because of avian influenza shouldn’t have an effect on the corporate’s Thanksgiving turkey provide — or households’ vacation menus.
The U.S. Division of Agriculture reported native outbreaks of extremely pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI, this month affecting greater than 60,000 birds in Lehigh County. At the least a portion of them was at Jaindl’s Orefield farm, a well known Lehigh Valley enterprise that provides turkeys to a number of Northeast grocery retailer chains and even to the White House.
“We’re assured that we are going to have an ample provide of turkeys for the Thanksgiving vacation,” proprietor David Jaindl advised lehighvalleylive.com in an emailed assertion. He mentioned most of his firm’s Thanksgiving birds have been processed previous to the outbreak.
There have been stories of a worth hike on turkeys for the vacations as the final provide takes successful. Nationally, greater than 50 million birds in 46 states have been affected. The virus can unfold shortly by way of flocks leading to “large losses” for farmers, mentioned Dr. David Cennimo, an infectious illness skilled at Rutgers New Jersey Medical Faculty.
However a provide hit doesn’t essentially imply a scarcity. The U.S. Division of Agriculture mentioned producers have been compensating by processing extra and youthful turkeys, which might affect the sizes out there at some grocers. And the division mentioned extra aggressive costs and gross sales are anticipated nearer to Thanksgiving.
“Anybody who needs a chook will have the ability to get a chook,” a USDA spokesperson advised lehighvalleylive.com.
Staff contained in the processing plant at Jaindl Turkey Farm in Orefield. Extremely pathogenic avian influenza is hitting poultry farmers nationwide, ensuing within the lack of tens of millions of birds. However consultants say turkeys are nonetheless suitable for eating for Thanksgiving.Saed Hindash | For lehighvalleylive.com
No matter worth and provide, the chook flu presents no new well being or security dangers from consuming turkey this yr.
Birds with HPAI are prohibited from sale, in response to the Nationwide Turkey Federation, an business advocacy group. Turkey and different farm birds and eggs are nonetheless suitable for eating when correctly dealt with and cooked, in response to the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention and the federal Meals and Drug Administration. And Cennimo mentioned he doesn’t anticipate viable HPAI viruses on pre-cooked turkeys, both.
“There isn’t any proof that influenza may very well be unfold from cooked turkey and it isn’t anticipated to occur,” Cennimo advised lehighvalleylive.com.
Specialists advise normal food-prep security: Wash arms and kitchen surfaces completely, use separate reducing boards for meat and greens, prepare dinner the turkey to an inside temperature of 165 levels, and refrigerate leftovers as quickly as doable.
Whereas this chook flu can typically unfold from chook to human, person-to-person transmission has been uncommon. The virus spreads primarily by way of birds’ saliva, mucous and feces, the CDC says. Individuals who deal with chook flocks are urged to take precautions — restrict home flocks’ publicity to wild birds, keep away from contact with different poultry, decrease the quantity of people that go to the birds, and report suspected instances. Indicators of an infection in birds embrace respiratory points, swelling across the eyes, respiratory by way of the mouth, lethargy and loss of life.
The Jaindl instances are the most recent in Pennsylvania, the place the sickness has popped up in 32 business and yard flocks totaling 4.3 million birds in 11 counties, together with Berks, Lehigh, Monroe and Northampton, since April. 4 extra instances have been reported in neighboring New Jersey, together with one in Warren County.
The virus is liable for greater than 100 useless vultures that littered the bottom on a northern New Jersey path final summer season. Lehigh Valley Zoo is shifting most of its birds indoors to keep away from an infection following the most recent spherical of native instances.
Poultry farmers and flock homeowners are advised to name their state’s animal well being divisions, 717-772-2852 in Pennsylvania and 609-671-6400 in New Jersey. Residents who see useless wild birds of their space can name USDA Wildlife Providers at 908-735-5654.
Cennimo mentioned none of that is deterring him from a conventional Thanksgiving unfold.
“I positively plan to be making a turkey this yr,” the infectious-disease skilled mentioned.
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Steve Novak could also be reached at [email protected].
