The largest egg producer in the USA temporarily halted production at a factory in Texas on Tuesday, after cases of bird flu were reported in chickens.
Mississippi-based Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. said approximately 1.6 million egg-laying hens and 337,000 pullets were decimated after the disease was detected at a facility in Parmer, Texas.
U.S. officials said the virus was also detected at a poultry facility in Michigan.
O Human case in Texas marks the first known case globally of a person contracting bird flu from a mammalfederal health officials said.
In Brazil, there are still no cases of bird flu registered in commercial poultry farms, places where chickens and eggs that go to supermarkets are raised.
There are also no cases of bird flu recorded in humans here.
Since the first record of the disease in the country, the focus of Brazilian producers and animal health agents has been to prevent the disease from reaching large farms. If this happens, the losses could be numerous, as bird flu spreads very quickly among birds.
Currently, the Brazil is the main exporter of chicken meat in the world and the second largest global producer, behind the USA.
This emergency is declared whenever there is a risk of a disease spreading quickly among animals. It is a way for the government to anticipate an outbreak of the disease.
By declaring an animal health emergency, animal health agencies are able to speed up processes to combat the disease. Examples: hiring an employee for a fixed period of time, reducing bureaucracy when purchasing equipment or moving employees from one state to another.
Tags: Largest egg producer USA temporarily stops production bird flu reported Agribusiness
