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Texas Agriculture Archive

March 5, 2004

Texas poultry industry
reels from avian flu

By Lana Robinson
Field Editor

Test results indicating that the strain of avian flu found in a Gonzales County flock Feb. 20 is more deadly than originally feared triggered a near global ban of U.S. poultry imports. Russia, Canada, Mexico, the European Union and South Korea have all shut the door on poultry originating in Texas. The Philippines also plans to prohibit imports. The U.S. exports about $2 billion worth of poultry products annually.

According to the Texas Department of Agriculture, 10 other countries already had a ban on U.S. poultry exports—which includes chickens, turkeys, eggs and other products—because of low pathogenic cases previously discovered in Delaware.

Additionally, Oklahoma officials have prohibited Texas poultry from crossing the state border.

Beverly Boyd, a TDA spokesperson, said prolonged bans could devastate the Texas poultry industry, whose exports totaled $123 million in 2002.

Poultry-related businesses and industries will also feel the pain.

"You've got people and their jobs and the economy in a lot of these small towns that are going to be impacted by this," Boyd said.

The poultry bans follow recent import bans by more than 50 countries on U.S. beef and cattle following the discovery of a single case of mad cow disease in Washington state in December. Exports represent about 10 per cent of the $40-billion U.S. beef industry.

Some 6,600 broilers from the farm in Gonzales County were destroyed after the strain was reclassified from low pathogenic to highly contagious. Testing in a 10-mile radius is underway. The discovery of the highly pathogenic strain in Gonzales County is the first case in the United States in 20 years.

Agriculture Commissioner Susan Combs said, "State and federal officials are currently working to reduce the chance of the virus spreading to other poultry operations."

The farmer, whose identity was not made public, sent out tissue samples for testing in mid-February after some of his birds died and others appeared sick.

Federal health officials are monitoring as a precaution any farm workers who came in contact with the infected chickens.

"I again want to stress that even though the strain in Texas is the highly pathogenic virus, it is not the same strain that has been found in Asia," Combs said.

Gonzales County is one of Texas' top poultry-producing counties with more than 85 million birds with a value of $100 million, according to Agriculture Department data. Chickens are raised in the county from both large producers, such as Tyson Foods, and small independents.

"I strongly urge all of our poultry operators across the state to use good management and disinfecting procedures to protect their flocks and to prevent this highly contagious disease from spreading," Combs said. "In addition, if poultry and pet bird owners suspect that their animals might be sick, please contact your local veterinarian or the Texas Animal Health Commission immediately."

The last time a highly pathogenic strain of bird flu was found in the U.S. was in 1984. USDA records indicate that more than 17 million birds were killed at a cost of nearly $65 million.

"It is important that all of us take the necessary precautions to control this disease," Combs said.

Suspected cases of avian influenza can be reported to the Texas Animal Health Commission at (800) 550-8242. For information on good management and disinfecting procedures, see the TAHC Web site at www.tahc.state.tx.us.