Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller sought to reassure the public in an interview with The Hill regarding the recent case of a Texas dairy worker contracting H5N1 bird flu, emphasizing that it shouldn’t prompt panic.
This marks only the second confirmed human bird flu infection in the U.S., coinciding with the virus spreading among cows in multiple states.
In response, Miller ordered the temporary closure of the Cal-Maine Foods egg production plant in Farwell, Texas, due to positive bird flu tests. The plant must cull nearly 2 million chickens and discard all eggs, representing about 4 percent of its flock.
Sid Miller (Credits: NPR)
Despite the immediate commercial impact, Miller expressed confidence in government readiness and public safety. He told consumers the situation isn’t alarming, with only one case among millions and mild symptoms. Miller stressed that products are safe and supply disruptions should not occur.
Regarding Cal-Maine Foods, one of Texas’s leading poultry farms, Miller acknowledged the important financial blow, estimating the loss to be substantial considering the value of each chicken and the production volume. However, he hinted at the possibility of the plant reopening sooner than expected, depending on the cleanup process.
The transmission mode from chickens to cows remains uncertain, with no recent flock movements reported by Cal-Maine. Miller highlighted the mild symptoms experienced by those infected, emphasizing the need for precautions, especially for vulnerable individuals.
Texas Agriculture Commissioner (Credits: Advocate.com)
The CDC echoed similar sentiments, stating that the H5N1 bird flu doesn’t pose a public health risk, emphasizing low transmission rates and mild symptoms in affected individuals.
Miller expressed confidence in the CDC’s preparedness, noting their stockpiles of vaccines for human bird flu cases. Both recent human infections were attributed to prolonged exposure in livestock processing settings, leading to minor symptoms and complete recovery.
While cautioning against panic, Miller endorsed CDC guidelines, stressing good hygiene practices and avoiding contact with sick animals or untreated animal products like raw milk or eggs.
