Tests from birds at a major egg producer in the south have returned positive for avian influenza, prompting plans to kill nearly two million hens and pullets. Cal-Maine Foods said April 2 that it was depopulating 1.6 million laying hens and 33,7000 pullets, which totals about 3.6 percent of its flocks, after some of the birds at a facility in Parmer County,
Texas tested positive for H1N5, a strain of the highly pathogenic avian influenza. The company is “required” to kill the birds, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller said in a statement. Cal-Maine Foods is halting production at the facility in order to comply with protocols from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The firm said it is working to secure eggs and meat from other facilities “to minimize disruption to its customers.” “The company continues to work closely with federal, state and local government officials and focused industry groups to mitigate the risk of future outbreaks and effectively manage the response,” said Cal-Maine Foods, which had to kill about 1.6 percent of its flock in 2023 after the avian influenza was detected at a Kansas facility. Other companies across the country culled millions of chickens in 2022 and 2023. Mr. Miller called the new development “absolutely devastating news for Cal-Maine and the entire Panhandle region which has already suffered so much already.” He added: “all producers must practice heightened biosecurity measures. The rapid spread of this virus means we must act quickly.” The first case recovered and the second case is recovering, the government said. There are no signs the flu is spreading from person to person but the influenza may be transmitting between animals, including cows, officials said. Cows have tested positive in Texas, Kansas, Michigan, New
Mexico, and Idaho. Most of the herds with the illness are in or originated from Texas. The U.S. Department of Agriculture said Monday that testing of the cases show the strain in the cattle appears to have been introduced by wild birds. The strain came from
China. “Initial testing has not found changes to the virus that would make it more transmissible to humans. While cases among humans in direct contact with infected animals are possible, this indicates that the current risk to the public remains low,” the agency said. Officials said that milk is safe because dairies are required to destroy or divert milk from sick cows, and any milk that enters the commercial market is required to be pasteurized. Federal officials say the situation emphasizes how it is risky to consume raw milk.