The largest producer of fresh eggs in the US said Tuesday, April 2, that it had temporarily halted production at a Texas plant after bird flu was found in chickens. Officials said the virus had also been detected at a poultry facility in Michigan.
"The Company continues to work closely with federal, state and local government officials and focused industry groups to mitigate the risk of future outbreaks and effectively manage the response," said Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. in a statement. "Cal-Maine Foods is working to secure production from other facilities to minimize disruption to its customers," it added.
The company said there is no known bird flu risk associated with eggs that are currently on the market, and no eggs have been recalled. The announcement by Cal-Maine comes a day after state health officials said a person had been diagnosed with bird flu after being in contact with cows presumed to be infected, and that the risk to the public remains low.
In Michigan, Michigan State University's Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory has detected bird flu in a commercial poultry facility in Ionia County, according to the Michigan's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. The county is about 100 miles (161 kilometers) northwest of Detroit.
The department said it received confirmation of the disease Monday from the lab and that it is the fourth time since 2022 that the disease was detected at a commercial facility in Michigan. Department spokesperson Jennifer Holton said Tuesday that state law prohibits the department from disclosing the type of poultry at the facility in Ionia. The facility has been placed under quarantine and the department does not anticipate any disruptions to supply chains across the state, Holton said.