Bird flu reported at Cal-Maine Foods, largest egg producer in US, in Texas Panhandle

Brandi D. Addison, USA TODAY NETWORK

Nearly 2 million chickens were culled at a Cal-Maines Food plant, which is the largest producer of eggs in the nation, located in the Texas Panhandle — following reports confirming a case of highly pathogenic avian flu in a chicken.

This development comes after recent reports of the first-known case of bird flu in cattle around two weeks ago and the first human infection of bird flu in Texas, reported earlier this week.

Here's what we know about the ongoing outbreak.

Confirmed bird flu case at Cal-Maines Food in Parmer County, Texas

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller confirmed a positive test for avian flu at the Cal-Main Foods, Inc. poultry facility in Farwell.

Consequently, the company was obligated to cull 1.6 million laying hens and 337,000 pullets, which make up approximately 3.6% of the company's total flock as of the most recent report on March 2.

The facility has temporarily halted production as the company implements protocols prescribed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, according to a release.

"This is absolutely devastating news for Cal-Maine and the entire Panhandle region which has already suffered so much already," Miller said in a release. “Given this latest development, all producers must practice heightened biosecurity measures. The rapid spread of this virus means we must act quickly."

What is bird flu, or avian flu?

The most recent outbreak of avian flu, also known as bird flu, was first identified in Europe in late 2020. Although the strain has existed for several decades — first identified in waterfowl in Southern China in 1996, according to the CDC — it has escalated in recent years. Symptoms of bird flu include:

  • Loss of appetite, lethargy.

  • Death without prior symptoms.

  • Eyelid swelling.

  • Twisting of the head and neck.

  • Purple discoloration to body parts, including legs.

How many animals has the bird flu impacted in Texas this year?

The current virus has caused the deaths of more than 82 million animals globally, making it the poultry industry's most significant blow since another major outbreak resulted in the deaths of over 50 million birds between 2014 and 2015.

The flu has impacted 82.04 million poultry and nearly 10,000 wild birds, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Additionally, sporadic cases have been reported in mammals, including livestock such as cattle and goats, as well as skunks.

In 2024, Texas has seen outbreaks that have impacted:

  • 1,894,101 commercial poultry in Parmer County, reported on April 2

  • 15 non-commercial backyard poultry in Deaf Smith County, reported on March 21

  • 246 non-commercial backyard poultry in Moore County, reported on March 11

Wild birds may have infected Texas cows

As of Wednesday, there were reportedly seven dairy herds in Texas with positive cases. Officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture suspect that migrating wild birds infected cattle, as farms have reported finding dead wild birds on their properties.

There are also positive cases in two dairy facilities in Kansas, one facility in Michigan and one facility in New Mexico.

Close contact with infected cattle is likely cause for positive human case in Texas

The recent case marks the first human case of the highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza in Texas and the second in the U.S since the onset of this particular strain, H5N1 in 2020. Authorities at the National Veterinary Services Laboratories confirmed last week that there is no risk of transmissibility to humans, but the Texas-based individual was reportedly in close contact with the dairy cows that tested positive for bird flu in late March.

Federal and state health authorities are currently investigating the infection. However, according to the release, the risk to the general public remains relatively low, and human-to-human transmission is rare.

Will the bird flu outbreak impact milk or egg supply?

Currently, there is no concern regarding the safety of the commercial milk supply or the potential risk the outbreak might pose to consumer health. The USDA mandates that dairies must send only milk from healthy animals for human consumption processing. Milk from affected animals is being diverted or destroyed and does not enter the supply for human consumption.

Furthermore, pasteurization, which is a requirement for commercial milk, has a historical track record of effectively deactivating bacteria and viruses, such as Influenza.

As for egg products, it's possible that the mass culling of poultry will impact the quantity of the egg supply. As is the case with dairy, it is not a risk for human consumption.

"The current risk to the public remains minimal,” Miller stated in the release. "It is important for us as an industry to maintain a high level of vigilance. State and national agencies will continue to provide updated guidance as developments warrant."

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Bird flu found in chickens at Cal-Maine Foods plant in Texas Panhandle

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