Cal-Maine Foods, Inc., the largest fresh egg producer in the United States, announced a temporary halt in egg production at one of its Texas facilities due to an outbreak of avian influenza. The affected plant, situated in Parmer County along the Texas-New Mexico border, experienced a significant impact, with approximately 1.6 million laying hens and 337,000 pullets being destroyed. This action was taken as a precautionary measure to contain the spread of the virus, which accounted for about 3.6% of the company's total flock.
Located roughly 85 miles southwest of Amarillo and about 370 miles northwest of Dallas, the facility operates within a region that is strategic for Cal-Maine, as the company primarily markets its eggs across the Southwestern, Southeastern, Midwestern, and Mid-Atlantic regions of the U.S. In response to the outbreak, Cal-Maine is actively coordinating with government officials at all levels and industry groups to address and mitigate future risks of avian influenza outbreaks.
The company is also making efforts to ensure that production from its other facilities is ramped up to minimize customer disruptions. Despite the current challenges, Cal-Maine reassured the public that there is no risk associated with consuming eggs already in the market, and no egg recalls have been issued. The U.S. Department of Agriculture supports this, stating that eggs, when properly handled and cooked, are safe for consumption.
This announcement follows closely after state health officials in Texas reported the first known instance of a human contracting this strain of bird flu from a mammal, specifically from exposure to presumably infected cows. However, officials have emphasized that the risk to the public remains low.
Meanwhile, in Michigan, a commercial poultry facility in Ionia County, located about 100 miles northwest of Detroit, has also experienced an outbreak of bird flu. Detected by Michigan State University's Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, this marks the fourth instance since 2022 that avian influenza has been identified in a commercial setting in the state. The specific type of poultry at the Michigan facility has not been disclosed due to state laws, but measures including quarantine have been put in place to prevent further spread. The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has stated that they do not foresee any significant disruptions to the state's supply chains.
Additionally, reports have emerged of bird flu infections in dairy cows across Texas, Kansas, and a recent confirmation in a Michigan dairy herd, which had received cattle from Texas. The USDA also confirmed an outbreak among a dairy herd in Idaho, further indicating the virus's spread among different types of livestock.
These developments underscore the challenges facing the agriculture and food production sectors in managing and containing outbreaks of avian influenza, highlighting the importance of stringent biosecurity measures and rapid response mechanisms to safeguard both animal and human health.