Bird flu in Texas: Largest US egg producer temporarily shutters facility after H5N1 virus found in chickens

The largest shaper of caller eggs successful nan U.S. says it has temporarily closed 1 of its accommodation successful Texas aft highly pathogenic avian influenza, different known arsenic H5N1 vertebrate flu, wiped retired astir 2 cardinal birds. 

Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. said 1 of its accommodation successful Parmer County "tested affirmative for highly pathogenic avian influenza, resulting successful depopulation of astir 1.6 cardinal laying hens and 337,000 pullets, aliases astir 3.6% of nan Company’s full flock arsenic of March 2, 2024." 

"Production astatine nan installation has temporarily ceased arsenic nan Company follows nan protocols prescribed by nan USDA," it added, noting location is "no known consequence related to HPAI associated pinch eggs that are presently successful nan marketplace and nary eggs person been recalled." 

The improvement comes aft the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced Monday that a personification successful Texas tested affirmative for nan vertebrate flu. 

RARE HUMAN CASE OF HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS BIRD FLU CONFIRMED IN TEXAS 

Roosters roam connected a workplace connected Jan. 23, 2023, successful Austin, Texas. Cal-Maine Foods, nan largest caller ovum shaper successful nan U.S., says it has temporarily closed a works successful Parmer County pursuing a vertebrate flu outbreak. (Brandon Bell / Getty Images)

"This personification had vulnerability to dairy cattle successful Texas presumed to beryllium infected pinch HPAI A(H5N1) viruses. The diligent reported oculus redness (consistent pinch conjunctivitis), arsenic their only symptom, and is recovering," nan CDC said successful a statement. "The diligent was told to isolate and is being treated pinch an antiviral supplier for flu." 

The CDC said this is nan 2nd lawsuit of a quality testing affirmative for H5N1 successful nan U.S., aft a erstwhile lawsuit was observed successful Colorado successful 2022. 

PRICE OF EGGS REMAINS HIGHER THAN USUAL  

Test tubes branded "Bird Flu" and eggs are seen successful this image illustration. (Dado Ruvic / Reuters Photos)

"This infection does not alteration nan H5N1 vertebrate flu quality wellness consequence appraisal for nan U.S. wide public, which CDC considers to beryllium low," it added. "However, group pinch adjacent aliases prolonged, unprotected exposures to infected birds aliases different animals (including livestock), aliases to environments contaminated by infected birds aliases different animals, are astatine greater consequence of infection." 

Dairy cows successful Texas and Kansas were reported to person been infected pinch vertebrate flu past week, according to The Associated Press. 

A worker stocks eggs connected a support astatine a market shop successful Detroit successful January 2023. Cal-Maine Foods is nan largest shaper of caller eggs successful nan U.S. (Matthew Hatcher/Bloomberg via / Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON FOX BUSINESS        

Meanwhile, Cal-Maine Foods says it is "working to unafraid accumulation from different accommodation to minimize disruption to its customers" and is successful adjacent coordination "with federal, authorities and section authorities officials and focused manufacture groups to mitigate nan consequence of early outbreaks and efficaciously negociate nan response."