Poultry from Mississippi chicken flock tests positive for bird flu

COPIAH COUNTY, Miss. (WLBT) – Poultry from a commercial broiler chicken flock in Copiah County has tested positive for H5N1 avian influenza, or bird flu.

The Mississippi Board of Animal Health announced the news on Tuesday, saying it had received notification from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory.

In response, the state veterinarian has quarantined the affected area, and the birds on the property have been “depopulated to prevent the spread of the disease.”

Birds from the flock have not entered the food system, MBAH stated.

According to the agency, avian influenza does not present a food safety risks, and poultry and eggs are safe to eat when handled and cooked properly.

All poultry must reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit as a safety precaution.

MBAH states that avian influenza in birds 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.

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