United States – The Texas plant where hens are used for egg production is under temporary closure because of the detection of avian flu in the animals.
Cal-Maine Foods Halts Operations
Cal-Maine Foods, the largest American egg producer, said in a news release distributed on April 20th that it had to cull more than 1.6 million hens and 337,000 pullets (young hens) at that plant, as reported by HealthDay.
Minimal Risk to US Population
A CDC says there is a very low risk to the US public as per the [bird flu] viruses, the company indicates. Moreover, the USDA has clarified that you cannot contract the disease if you safely handle and adequately cook eggs. Besides, there is no present concern related to eggs that are on the market, and no eggs have been recalled due to any link with the disease.
Second Human Case Reported in Texas
The news came after reports on Monday of a dairy worker in Texas being treated for avian influenza. The person became the second recorded human case in the US. The CDC in the US released a statement claiming that the patient tested positive for H5N1 bird flu.
On the other hand, Minnesota reported the first bird flu case among livestock from the US in early February, involving a juvenile goat that was found on a farm containing infected chickens who tested positive.
Bird flu was also detected in bovine herds in Texas and Kansas last month. Colorado officials confirmed Tuesday that cows in Michigan were also positive and that there was presumptive positive testing among cows in Idaho and New Mexico, suggesting that the virus would be spreading among cattle.
Health Experts Stress Safe Food Handling Practices
While health experts assure humans of a low risk of illness, the CDC reported that people should avoid eating raw or undercooked food, unpasteurized milk, and unhealed cheeses. Heating eggs or poultry to about 165 degrees Fahrenheit has a tendency to “destroy bacteria and viruses, including bird flu viruses,” the CDC outlined, as reported by HealthDay.
The flu in birds leads to human appearance symptoms such as eye redness, fever, chestiness, sore throat, muscle or body aches, headaches, fatigue as well as shortness of breath or difficulty. Exactly the same symptoms, like diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, or seizures were less common, to note the CDC.