MarketWatch : declared in Georgia poultry company struck by strain of bird flu as virus spreads through southeast

Last week, the low pathogenic avian virus was detected in Kentucky resulting in a loss of 22,000 hens. A Georgia commercial poultry company has been struck by a strain of bird Flu that has been spreading through the southeast U.S., putting producers in the state with the nation's largest poultry industry on high alert. This bird flu virus, the first identified among commercial chickens in Georgia, poses a very low risk to humans and the food supply, Georgia State Veterinarian Robert Cobb Jr. said Tuesday. The Georgia Department of Agriculture said Monday that a low pathogenic strain of avian influenza had been identified in a commercial flock in Chattooga County, on the border with Alabama. New Bird Flu Strain Threatens U.S. Flocks (0:59) Researchers fear that migratory birds from other parts of the world may bring new strains of the avian flu to the U.S. A strain of the virus is currently decimating millions of birds in Europe and Asia.

Top U.S. chicken-producing state sees first case of bird flu

A flock of 18,000 chickens used for breeding was culled after testing positive for H7 bird flu, according to the agriculture department. Chicago | Reuters — Georgia has confirmed its first-ever case of bird flu in commercial poultry, its agriculture department said on Monday, widening an outbreak of the disease into the United States' biggest chicken meat-producing state. The worst-ever U.S. outbreak of highly pathogenic bird flu in poultry in 2014 and 2015 killed about 50 million birds, most of which were egg-laying hens in Iowa. ADVERTISEMENTThe discovery came after officials in Alabama, Kentucky and Tennessee confirmed cases of highly pathogenic, or lethal, and low-pathogenic H7N9 bird flu in breeding operations this month. But the spread of highly pathogenic bird flu to poultry in new states would represent a financial risk for meat companies because it could kill more birds or require flocks to be culled.


"Together, these factors have created an oversupply of eggs, with continued pressure on market prices," Mr Baker said. Demand slow to recoverEgg prices are under pressure from rebounding production, after a sharp reduction from the 2015 bird flu outbreak. Little risk from current outbreakBut Mr Baker downplayed the risk from recent cases of bird flu in the US, noting that flock biosecurity has been enhanced since the last outbreak. US egg company Cal-Maine Foods is still suffering from the after-effects of the last bird-flu outbreak, even as concerns about new cases mount. Cal-Maine facebook/" target="_blank">shares fell over 6% in pre-market trade after the egg distribution company reported lower than expected earnings.


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