Arkansas Bird Flu

They will downplay this in order to avoid panic, but stay vigilant.

Quote :

15,000 Arkansas Hens Exposed To Bird Flu
Tyson Foods Has Started Killing, Burying Carcasses

LITTLE ROCK, Ark., June 3, 2008

AP) Tyson Foods Inc. has begun killing and burying the carcasses of 15,000 hens in northwest Arkansas that tested positive for exposure to a strain of the avian flu that is not harmful to humans, state officials said Tuesday.

Jon Fitch, director of the state's Livestock and Poultry Commission, said routine blood tests conducted Friday found the possible exposure. Further tests done by the state and the U.S. Department of Agriculture found the birds did not have active infections, but rather were exposed to a subtype of the disease.

Fitch said the company immediately began disposing of the birds.

"There is absolutely no human health threat," Fitch said. "But we take this very seriously."

Fitch said state officials decided against announcing the infection to the general public because the birds tested positive for exposure to the H7N3 strain of the virus. The strain that ravaged Asian poultry stocks in late 2003 was H5N1 bird flu virus. That version of the virus has killed 240 people worldwide and scientists worry it could mutate into a form that spreads easily among people.

Gary Mickelson, a spokesman for Springdale-based Tyson, said the hens showed no signs of sickness before their pre-slaughter blood tests. He said the exposed birds all came from a contractor.

"As a preventive measure, Tyson is also stepping up its surveillance of avian influenza in the area," Mickelson said in a statement. "The company plans to test all breeder farms that serve the local Tyson poultry complex, as well as any farms within a 10-mile radius of the affected farm."

Matt DeCample, a spokesman for Gov. Mike Beebe, said the governor was alerted about the tests Monday.

Stock in Tyson, the world's largest meat producer, fell by 8 percent in trading Tuesday, down $1.47 to $16.98 per share.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/06/03/health/main4151249.shtml

I heard about this on the news last night. I find it disgusting that all those birds are being destroyed over a "possible" exposure to a disease that isn't even harmful to humans. Back a few years ago when the government in Europe destroyed all those thousands of sheep because of hoof and mouth disease I read that it usually passes after a couple of weeks, I guess like a "sheep cold" or something. I guess my inner animal advocate is rearing its head.

Hello Mid and Spring,
I have not been around here lately
and have been trying to get things
wrapped up before winter. My Chickens
are all fine and I would never destroy any
of my Chickens unless I was absolutely
positive of Hn51 for sure. This is what happens
when fear sets in, kill everything mentality.