Human case of the chicken flu confirmed in Texas
A person in Texas has been recognized with chicken flu, an an infection tied to the recent discovery of the virus in dairy cows, well being officers stated.
Fox – 26 Houston
The Ohio Department of Agriculture confirmed an Ohio cattle herd in Wood County examined optimistic for chicken flu.
As of now, it’s protected to devour correctly dealt with and cooked eggs and poultry, based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The U.S. poultry business has strict well being and security requirements, together with common monitoring for chicken flu.
What does all of it imply for egg and poultry manufacturing? A 2022 outbreak of avian flu could present some solutions.
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Have there been chicken flu outbreaks that affected egg manufacturing?
In February 2022, the avian influenza struck egg-laying hens, decreasing egg manufacturing and driving costs to report highs, based on the US Department of Agriculture.
By the tip of 2022, greater than 43 million egg-laying hens died from the chicken influenza or to depopulation because the outbreak started. Those deaths have been unfold throughout two waves — from February to June, 30.7 million hens died, and from September to December one other 12.6 million hens died.
The deaths impacted egg inventories, which have been 29% decrease in December 2022 simply as eggs had elevated demand as a result of winter vacation season, versus the start of the yr. Holiday baking season resulted in a number of successive weeks of report excessive egg costs, resulting in shortages and empty cabinets.
Remember when egg carton costs have been loopy excessive? It was all due to the chicken flu.
The common worth was 267% larger the week of Christmas 2022 in comparison with the start of the yr. Egg costs have been 210% larger than the identical time in 2021. According to AP, a median dozen eggs went from $1.93 to a nationwide common of $4.82 in 2022.
But over the last week of 2022, stock sizes started rising once more, and costs fell. The chicken flu outbreak had subsided by this time, rebuilding its egg-laying flocks.
How can avian flu have an effect on poultry manufacturing?
Around 58 million birds, chickens and turkeys have been slaughtered throughout the chicken flu outbreak from 2022, based on the US Department of Agriculture. The extremely contagious virus was unfold by wild birds by droppings and nasal discharges, mutating over time, giving it the power to outlive all through summers.
Whole hen and turkey costs spiked not simply due to the chicken flu outbreak, but in addition widespread inflation, according to the AP.
Whole chickens went from a median of $1.62 per pound in January 2022 to $1.93 final October. However, the an infection didn’t hit chickens too arduous, because the business lies southeast, the place instances of chicken flu haven’t been discovered as a lot.
During the identical winter vacation season, turkeys for Thanksgiving have been in excessive demand, and went from a median of $1.35 per pound in 2021 as much as $1.79 a yr later throughout the chicken flu outbreak.
Farmers then doubled down on precautions, resulting in the sharp drop in chicken flu of their flocks of poultry, the AP writes. They required their staff to bathe and alter their garments earlier than getting into barns, invested in separate units of instruments for each barn, upgraded barn air flow and put in laser programs to discourage wild birds from congregating.
The USDA additionally urged that some wild geese and geese could have developed immunity, additional reducing the unfold of chicken flu.
Which states have chicken flu?
This H5N1 pressure of chicken flu, among the many deadliest varieties based on the Associated Press, has been present in dairy cows in Ohio, Texas, Kansas, Idaho, New Mexico and Michigan.
State and federal public well being officers are persevering with to evaluate dangers.
Can people get sick from chicken flu?
Yes, however the public well being danger from chicken flu stays low, based on the Food and Drug Administration — solely 2 instances of chicken flu in people have been reported from the latest outbreak.
