April 5, 2024

Bird flu outbreak halts egg production in Texas and Michigan, US

The largest producer of fresh eggs in the US, Cal-Maine Foods, Inc, announced the temporary suspension of production at a Texas plant following the detection of bird flu in chickens, and officials said the virus was also detected at a poultry facility in Michigan, Associated Press reported.

Cal-Maine Foods, headquartered in Ridgeland, Mississippi, disclosed that approximately 1.6 million laying hens and 337,000 pullets, constituting about 3.6% of its total flock, were euthanised after avian influenza was confirmed at a facility in Parmer County, Texas.

Situated on the Texas-New Mexico border in the Texas Panhandle, approximately 137 km southwest of Amarillo and 595 km northwest of Dallas, the affected plant serves markets primarily in the Southwestern, Southeastern, Midwestern, and mid-Atlantic regions of the US.

In a statement, Cal-Maine emphasised its collaboration with federal, state, and local government authorities, as well as industry stakeholders, to mitigate the risk of future outbreaks and efficiently manage response efforts.

Furthermore, the company stated its commitment to securing production from alternate facilities to minimise disruptions for its customers amidst the temporary cessation of operations at the affected plant.

-      Associated Press