Bird flu infects Arkansas poultry as US cases rise
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[November 04, 2023]
By Tom Polansek
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Arkansas, a major U.S. chicken producer, has
reported its first outbreak of lethal avian flu in a commercial poultry
flock in a year, as the nation sees an uptick in cases.
The outbreak is set to expand export restrictions on U.S. poultry in
major producing states as buyers limit purchases from infected areas.
The disease infected a flock of 31,600 breeder pullets, or young hens,
used to produce meat in Madison County, Arkansas, the U.S. government
said this week.
Arkansas, the third biggest producer of chickens raised for meat, last
suffered an outbreak on a commercial farm in October 2022 in the same
county.
Avian flu has wiped out more than 60 million U.S. chickens, turkeys and
other birds since 2022 and has spread to new parts of the world. Cases
tend to increase during the spring and autumn migration of wild birds
that transmit the virus, and infected poultry flocks are culled to
prevent the disease from spreading.
"We have taken immediate action to contain this disease," Arkansas
Agriculture Secretary Wes Ward said.
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A test tube labelled "Bird Flu", eggs and a piece of paper in the
colours of the U.S. national flag are seen in this picture
illustration, January 14, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File
Photo
Alabama, the second biggest U.S.
producer of chickens for meat, last week confirmed its first
outbreak at a commercial farm, in a flock of 296,500 gamebirds,
according to the U.S. government. Mexico, the biggest export market
for U.S. chicken, quickly blocked poultry shipments from the
infected county.
The U.S. in October confirmed its first case of avian flu on any
commercial poultry farm since April in South Dakota. Minnesota, the
biggest U.S. turkey producer, and Iowa reported fresh outbreaks as
well.
The World Organization for Animal Health said on Thursday that
Mexico reported its first outbreak this season on a farm, just a
month after the country declared it was free of the disease.
(Reporting by Tom Polansek; Editing by Bill Berkrot)
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