The leading producer of fresh eggs in the U.S. announced on Tuesday that it had temporarily stopped production at a Texas plant due to the discovery of bird flu in chickens. Additionally, officials confirmed that the virus had been identified at a poultry facility in Michigan.
Cal-Maine Foods, Inc., headquartered in Ridgeland, Mississippi, shared in a statement that around 1.6 million laying hens and 337,000 pullets, accounting for approximately 3.6% of its total flock, were euthanized following the detection of avian influenza at the Parmer County, Texas facility.
The plant is situated on the Texas-New Mexico border in the Texas Panhandle, roughly 85 miles southwest of Amarillo and about 370 miles northwest of Dallas.
"The Company is collaborating closely with federal, state, and local government authorities, as well as industry groups, to reduce the risk of future outbreaks and efficiently handle the situation," the statement read. "Cal-Maine Foods is actively seeking alternative production sources to minimize disruptions for its customers."
The company affirmed that there is currently no bird flu threat associated with eggs available in the market, and no eggs have been subject to recall. Eggs that are handled and cooked properly remain safe for consumption, as stated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Cal-Maine made an announcement following a report by state health officials stating that an individual had contracted bird flu after coming into contact with cows believed to be infected, with the public risk deemed low.
Meanwhile, in Michigan, bird flu has been detected in a commercial poultry facility in Ionia County by Michigan State University's Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, as reported by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
This county is located approximately 100 miles northwest of Detroit.
According to the department, this is the fourth instance since 2022 that the disease has been identified at a commercial facility in Michigan.
State Department spokesperson Jennifer Holton mentioned on Tuesday that state regulations prevent the disclosure of the type of poultry at the Ionia facility.
The facility has been placed under quarantine, and Holton assured that there are no expected disruptions to the supply chains throughout the state.
Furthermore, the human case reported in Texas is the first documented instance globally of an individual contracting this strain of bird flu from a mammal, according to federal health authorities.
Cal-Maine, a leading egg producer, announced that the majority of its egg sales are concentrated in the Southwestern, Southeastern, Midwestern, and mid-Atlantic regions of the United States.
