Mississippi’s first case of bird flu this year has been confirmed.
The Mississippi Board of Animal Health was notified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory that a positive case of H5 avian influenza was found at a commercial broiler chicken flock in Amite County. The state veterinarian has quarantined the affected premises, and birds on the property have been depopulated to prevent the spread of the disease. Birds from the flock have not entered the food system.
Avian influenza, while highly pathogenic, does not present a food safety risk for humans, as poultry and eggs are safe to eat when handled and cooked properly. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the public health risk associated with avian influenza in birds remains low. As a reminder, the proper handling and cooking of all poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Farenheit is recommended as a general food safety precaution, per officials.
In birds, on the other hand, avian influenza can cause sudden death, lack of energy or appetite, decreased egg production, soft-shelled or misshapen eggs, swelling or purple discoloration of head, eyelids, comb, hocks, nasal discharge, coughing, sneezing, incoordination, and diarrhea.
The board of animal health reports that it is actively working with the poultry industry to increase monitoring of flocks statewide. Industry leaders have been put on high alert to increase biosecurity and surveillance for bird flu. Poultry owners who notice signs of avian influenza in their flocks are urged to report bird illnesses and deaths here.
“Precautions should be taken when handling sick or dead birds, including proper handwashing, using gloves, wearing masks, and sanitation of surfaces that come into contact with sick or dead birds to prevent the spread of avian influenza to people,” an official statement from animal health officials reads.