The largest supplier of eggs in the United States, Cal-Maine Foods, halted production at its Texas plant after chickens tested positive for the highly contagious bird flu. This announcement came after a spike in cases across the nation, with nearly 2 million chickens, including hens and pullets, being slaughtered as a result of the outbreak. The virus was also found in a person in Texas who had come into contact with dairy cattle, and in sick cows in Texas and Kansas.
Cal-Maine Foods, headquartered in Ridgeland, Mississippi, is the largest producer and distributor of fresh shell eggs in the nation. The company stated that it sells most of its eggs in states across the Southwest, Southeast, Midwest, and MidAtlantic regions. Despite their dedication to biosecurity programs, no farm is immune from the threat of avian influenza, which is believed to be present in the wild bird population. The company is working to secure production from other facilities to minimize disruption to its customers.
A person in Texas became ill after contact with cows presumed to be infected with avian influenza, with their primary symptom being conjunctivitis. This marks only the second known human case of bird flu in the United States. Last week, the USDA announced that HPAI had been found in milk samples from dairy farms in Kansas and Texas, with wild migratory birds believed to be the source of the infection.
Bird flu is a disease caused by a family of flu viruses primarily transmitted among birds. Avian influenza viruses are classified into two groups: low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI), often seen in wild birds, and highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), mostly found in domestic poultry. The viruses can cause mild or severe disease with high mortality rates in infected birds. While human cases of bird flu are rare, people with close contact with affected animals are at a higher risk of infection.
Federal and state health authorities are investigating the outbreaks of bird flu, with the USDA stating that the risk to the general public is low as the viruses have rarely been transmitted from person to person. Symptoms of bird flu in humans can include eye infections, upper respiratory symptoms, or severe diseases like pneumonia. People can contract the virus through close contact with infected birds or their droppings, with symptoms including loss of appetite, lethargy, sudden death, eyelid swelling, twisting of the head and neck, and purple discoloration of body parts.
The article highlights the importance of monitoring birds for signs of avian influenza, as well as taking precautions to prevent the spread of the virus. While the outbreak has impacted the largest egg producer in the U.S., efforts are being made to minimize disruption to customers and contain the spread of the virus. Authorities continue to investigate and monitor the situation to protect both the poultry industry and public health.
