TN: Poultry Farm Has LP H7 bird flu

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.wsmv.com/health/19333517/detail.html

Poultry Farm Has Bird Flu, Says State
Farm's Birds Not Used For Food
POSTED: 11:44 am CDT April 30, 2009

PULASKI, Tenn. -- State health officials said a poultry farm in Giles County has tested positive for bird flu.

Experts said that this particular strain of bird flu poses a minimal risk to humans and usually is not fatal to birds.

The state is not identifying the farm, but the agriculture department said it produces breeding stock, and the birds are not used for food.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: TN: Poultry Farm Has Bird Flu (not H5N1), Says State

Re: TN: Poultry Farm Has Bird Flu (not H5N1), Says State

Source: http://www.gilesnews.us/Stories/090501AvianFluExposure.html

Local Low-Path Avian Flu Exposure
Is Not Infection
Tracy Ayers
Tracy.ayers@pulaskicitizen.com

Typed as H7 by USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratory, the particular strain of Avian Influenza detected on a Giles County farm is not a food or public safety issue, according to Tennessee Department Agriculture Public Affairs Director Tom Womack.

?This is an isolated event and no live virus has been found,? Womack said. ?The main concern for TDA is that the public understand this is strain H7 ? not the H1N1 novel flu virus, commonly referred to as swine flu. It is identified as a low-pathogenic H7 strain, meaning that it is not easily transmissible and causes little illness in birds.

?The H7 strain poses minimal risk to human health and is not the high-pathogenic strain (H5N1) associated with human and poultry outbreaks in other countries.?

According to a press release from TDA, ?the affected farm produces breeding stock used in the poultry industry, and no birds have entered the human food supply. Avian Influenza is not transmitted through poultry meat or eggs, which are safe to consume with regular proper handling and preparation.?

Womack said the greatest local threat from this particular strain is the economic impact for the poultry industry. He explained that poultry is a $454 million industry in Tennessee ? second to cattle.

?Tennessee provides a global poultry breeding, genetic stock and eggs production service,? Womack said. ?Avian Influenza could have a negative impact on Tennessee?s exports of poultry products. However, if in the next few of weeks Tennessee is shown to be free of Avian Flu, the producers should be able to resume regular trade activity.?

The operators of the farm that has shown some evidence of exposure ? not infection ? has opted to depopulate the flock as a precaution.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: TN: Poultry Farm Has LP H7 bird flu

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssConsumerGoodsAndRetailNews/idUSN0535178420090505

Tennesse chicken flock found with mild bird flu
Tue May 5, 2009 5:43pm EDT

CHICAG0, May 5 (Reuters) - A Tennessee flock of breeder hens being raised for Tyson Foods Inc (TSN.N) was destroyed after tests showed the presence of mild avian influenza, Tyson said on Tuesday.

The 15,000 birds showed no signs of illness and there appeared to be no threat to human health, Tyson said.

The affected birds were at a contract grower in Lincoln County, Tennessee. The H7N9 flu antibodies found in the birds is not the more serious highly pathogenic H5N1 strain that was in Asia, Europe and Africa.

The strain also is not related to the H1N1 influenza virus, which has recently been called swine flu.

The finding in the Tennessee flock prompted Tyson to increase surveillance for avian flu in area flocks.