The nation’s largest raw egg producer has suspended production at its Texas factory after avian influenza was detected in chickens, the company announced Tuesday, adding that the virus had also been detected at its Michigan facility. It pointed out.
Calmaine Foods, based in Ridgeland, Mississippi, said in a statement that an estimated 1.6 million layer hens and 337,000 hens were culled after contracting avian influenza at its facility in Palmer County, Texas. . That number represents about 3.6 percent of the facility’s total herd, according to the Associated Press. report.
The plant is located on the Texas-New Mexico border, about 570 miles northwest of Dallas in the state’s panhandle. The company said it sells most of its eggs in the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast and Southwest regions of the United States, the report said.
“We continue to work closely with federal, state and local officials and key industry organizations to reduce the risk of further outbreaks and effectively manage the response,” the statement said. Ta.
“Calmaine Foods is working to secure production from other facilities to minimize disruption to customers,” the statement said.
The company added that it was not aware of any risks associated with eggs already on the market and said there were no recalled eggs.
“The Calmain announcement was made the next day. State health officials revealed The report said one person had been diagnosed with avian influenza after coming into contact with a possibly infected cow, and the risk to the public remained low.
Federal health officials said the human case in Texas is the first known case in the world of a person contracting this version of bird flu from a mammal.
The Michigan State University Diagnostic Laboratory also found avian influenza at a commercial poultry facility in Ionia County.According to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
“The agency received laboratory confirmation of the disease on Monday, announcing it was the fourth time since 2022 that the disease has been detected at a commercial facility in Michigan,” the report said.
Department spokeswoman Jennifer Holton said the facility is currently isolated and the department does not anticipate any disruption to the statewide supply chain. Holton also said state law prohibits the department from disclosing what types of poultry are on the property.
“Dairy Cows of Texas and Kansas reported Federal agriculture officials confirmed the infection in a dairy herd in Michigan that recently received cattle from Texas after being infected with avian influenza last week, the report said. “An Idaho dairy herd has been added to the list after federal agricultural officials confirmed detection of avian influenza,” according to a Tuesday press release from the Department of Agriculture. [United States Department of Agriculture]”
