US turkey producers ought to ramp up hen flu testing, USDA says

By Tom Polansek

CHICAGO (Reuters) – U.S. poultry producers ought to ramp up testing and monitoring of turkeys for hen flu earlier than they’re slaughtered to make sure the virus stays out of the meals provide, the U.S. Division of Agriculture mentioned on Friday.

The company is advising enhanced security measures in Minnesota and South Dakota, the place turkey flocks with greater than 500 birds ought to be remoted, monitored and examined for hen flu inside 72 hours earlier than going to slaughter, USDA mentioned.

Different states could also be included later, the company added.

“The brand new coverage is inspired, and has assist from states and trade, however not required,” USDA spokesperson Lyndsay Cole mentioned in an e mail.

The modifications come after a pet meals firm, Northwest Naturals, final month recalled cat meals made with turkey as a result of it examined constructive for extremely pathogenic avian influenza, or hen flu.

The Oregon Division of Agriculture mentioned a cat contracted the illness and died after consuming Northwest Naturals’ Feline Turkey Recipe uncooked and frozen pet meals contaminated with the virus.

Almost 70 folks within the U.S., most of them farmworkers, have contracted hen flu since April, because the virus has circulated amongst poultry flocks and dairy herds. Three folks have examined constructive and not using a clear supply of publicity to the virus, in accordance with the CDC. There isn’t a affirmation that any folks turned contaminated by consuming meals that contained the virus.

Elevated testing and surveillance of turkey flocks intention to take away a possible avenue for spreading the illness and to bolster confidence amongst shoppers and buying and selling companions, the company mentioned.

Minnesota, the nation’s largest turkey producer, and South Dakota have suffered hen flu outbreaks in flocks.

“These states had been chosen due to genetic linkages to the virus from contaminated cats and due to the excessive proportion of instances in turkeys in these states,” USDA mentioned.