Alabama monitoring avian flu outbreak in cattle, poultry in Texas, no reports of disease here
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) – There are heightened concerns surrounding an unusual outbreak of avian influenza, which has infected some dairy cattle and in one reported case, a human working with dairy cattle in Texas.
On Tuesday, the largest U.S. producer of eggs, “Cal-Maine Foods” announced it has destroyed 1.6 million birds at its facility on the Texas-New Mexico border after avian flu was detected in the flock.
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The virus has not been detected in Alabama.
Last week milk from cows in Texas – the country’s largest cattle supplier – tested positive for avian flu, which is uncommon.
Rick Pate, Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries, said the news of the flu transmission from chicken to cow to human was unexpected. He told News 19 the Texas investigation began after farmers noticed their dairy cows that were listless.
“They tested the milk and found that it had tested positive for avian influenza and so all of that’s been dumped,” Pate said.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, avian influenza is generally present in migratory birds, like ducks and it’s unusual for it to spread to non-avian mammals. The CDC said the person who contracted the virus has been advised to quarantine.
“The patient reported eye redness (consistent with conjunctivitis), as their only symptom, and is recovering,” the CDC said. “The patient was told to isolate and is being treated with an antiviral drug for flu. This infection does not change the H5N1 bird flu human health risk assessment for the U.S. general public, which CDC considers to be low.”
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The CDC said people with prolonged exposure to infected animals including birds and livestock are at greater risk for exposure.
Pate, Alabama’s Agriculture Commissioner said Tuesday none of the flu-infected cattle or milk made it to Alabama.
“I think we’ve had it in two dairies in Texas we’ve had it in maybe one or two in Kansas, maybe one in New Mexico so it’s really isolated,” he said.
Historically, Pate says Alabama exports cows to Texas, not the other way around.
“No cattle are moving into Alabama from any of those affected areas. And in fact, more of our cattle go their way by far than come our way,” he said.
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Pate also told News 19 that pasteurizing milk processing procedures should ensure the virus is killed if it happens to go undetected.
“Science shows that if milk pasteurized, that normally means you heated up to 161 degrees, 15 seconds that would certainly destroy any ai (avian influenza) if it did get in the milk supply,” he said.
The commissioner says his office is keeping a close eye on developments. And, Alabama has developed extensive protocols for responding to animal disease outbreaks, including avian flu.
“Very little concern at this point about the food supply system about milk supplies,” Pate said. “But you know, we’re watching it every day.”
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