USDA confirms return of deadly avian flu virus

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said the discovery was the first case this year of highly pathogenic H7 avian influenza (HPAI) in U.S. commercial poultry. The commercial breeder where the outbreak was detected, which was not identified, supplies Tyson Foods.

The USDA says it is working with Tennessee state officials to isolate the virus.

The statement added that another animal illness, equine infectious anemia, was found in two horses in West Tennessee.

Pilgrim’s Pride Corp, the world’s second-largest chicken producer, said it “immediately activated AI response plans and heightened on-farm biosecurity programs at all Pilgrim’s facilities” in response to the case.

Tyson Foods (TSN) stock is falling almost 4% to $61.30 after US officials confirmed on Sunday that they found a strain of bird flu on a Tennessee farm contracted to the food company. She says the state is working with MI chicken, turkey and other producers to reduce exposure to potentially infected wild and domestic fowl. Worryingly, the strain resembled one of the viruses responsible for a massive bird flu outbreak from 2014 to 2015 that led to 50 million chicken being killed and other countries temporarily banning American poultry imports.

“Animal health is our top priority”, said Dr. Charles Hatcher, the state veterinarian.

Officials said the biggest threat with humans handling infected birds comes from them also handling healthy birds, which will spread the virus quickly to flocks.

Following are facts about the U.S. poultry market from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), industry groups and company filings. The Tennessee Department of Agriculture said it is assessing whether the virus could be the A (H7N9) strain that has infected hundreds of people in China or another bird flu strain. It is the first time HPAI has been found in Tennessee, the state government said.

This strain appears different from an outbreak in 2015 in the midwest, and no transmission to humans was reported then.

HPAI was found once previous year at an IN turkey farm.

No people were affected during that outbreak, which was primarily of the H5N2 strain.