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What You Need to Know About Avian Influenza
- Avian Influenza cannot be transmitted via cooked chicken.
- Tyson Foods and other U.S. chicken producers take great care to prevent
chickens from being exposed to diseases. Unlike birds in Asia, which are primarily raised
outdoors, commercial chickens in the U.S. are kept indoors, away from wild birds and other
means of spreading diseases
- Recently, Tyson Foods began testing every flock of chickens, before they’re
brought to the processing plant, for the presence of Avian Influenza (AI, or
“bird flu”). If this testing indicates evidence of H5 or H7 strains of AI, the
farm will be quarantined and the flocks destroyed on the farm. Other less severe
strains pose little threat to humans and no threat to food safety. If detected,
we will continue to handle them under the guidelines that exist today.
- There are several kinds of "bird flu" or avian influenza. Most affect only birds. Some are
a more serious threat to birds than others.
- One kind of avian influenza, High Pathogenic, or Asian, H5N1, has been known
to cause problems in humans. At this time, Asian H5N1 has only been found in
Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, never in the United States.
- Asian H5N1 primarily affects birds, but there have been cases where it has
affected humans. In these cases, medical experts have determined that it
probably spread as a result of the people being in direct contact with live
birds that had been allowed essentially to run free outdoors. H5N1 does not
transmit easily from birds to humans. Proper handling procedures can easily prevent such transmission.
- The "threat" being discussed in recent news will only occur if the H5N1
virus changes so that it can easily infect and spread from person to person.
That has not happened at this point.
- Some forms of avian influenza that affect only birds have appeared in the
United States in the past, and those forms were contained and controlled.
Types of Avian Influenza
- Low Pathogenic (commonly referred to as "Low Path") —
Occasionally found in U.S., usually originating in non-commercial flocks.
Normally transmitted only from birds to birds, resulting in minor bird health
symptoms and no serious human health concerns
- High Pathogenic (commonly referred to as "High Path") —
Potential threat to bird health is more serious. Occurrence in the U.S. has been
very infrequent, and quickly contained. Normally affects only birds, but some
strains have been known to transfer to humans on occasion.
- Asian H5N1 High Pathogenic — Currently being found in Asia and
Eastern Europe, but not in the U.S. to date. Some cases in Asia and Eastern
Europe of H5N1 spreading to humans through close contact with live birds.
Possibility exists of this specific strain of flu being transmitted from humans
to humans, which, if it mutates, could lead to the potential "pandemic" for
which preparations are being made.
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Video Questions
& Answers
Tyson Foods' VP of Live Production Services, Dr. Patrick Pilkington, answers the most frequently asked questions concerning Avian Influenza. See the videos and read the transcripts.
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