040157 U.S. Companies Not Worried About Bird Flu

"We're trying to keep a firewall between our birds and the outside world," said John Smith, health director for Fieldale Farms in Baldwin, Ga.

Since the bird flu surfaced in October in Vietnam, domestic sales of chicken, turkey and other poultry have not dropped off.

The Asian flu is actually helping the American market because Japanese bans on chickens from affected Asian countries have prompted a rise in sales — and prices — of U.S. poultry. More is also being sold to Hong Kong and Singapore.

So far, bird flu — also known as H5N1 avian influenza — has killed tens of millions of chickens and ducks in 10 countries across Asia — from the disease or in government-ordered slaughters. The virus has jumped to humans in Vietnam, where eight people have died, and in Thailand, where two have died.

Only people who have had close contact with diseased birds have become infected. There are no cases of people-to-people transmission, or of the disease spreading to people who have consumed poultry.

Bird flu is a concern because it could evolve into a new virus that is lethal and easily spread among people who may not have much natural immunity to it, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (news - web sites).

"Right now the risk here appears to be very low, but we are taking a number of steps because this could be a serious problem if the epidemic in Asia is not contained," said Dr. Julie Gerberding, the CDC's director.

Those steps include bans on poultry from affected areas in Asia, constant blood testing of flocks and limits on people who can have contact with birds in poultry houses.

As poultry officials met this week in Atlanta at the 56th International Poultry Exposition, there appeared to be little concern about the bird flu coming to the United States. Instead there was a party atmosphere with cheerleaders helping promote new poultry products, giant video screens displaying fryer parts moving along shiny new conveyor belts, and grills sizzling with the latest chicken recipes.

"The American consumer does not relate what's produced here with what's going on out there," said Aziz Sacranie, technical director of poultry for Alltech, Ltd., a poultry supplement supplier. "In the United States, prices will hold and be healthy."

The protection against bird flu begins far beyond U.S. borders. Americans who travel to affected countries are asked not to have contact with poultry farms there and are asked to stay away from live animal markets and to avoid contact with bird feces.

In the United States, the government monitors the health of chickens to provide early warning against outbreaks that affect birds. Any birds found infected are quarantined and, if necessary, slaughtered.

At Fieldale Farms, poultry houses are off-limits to visitors and those who absolutely must go inside the houses can only do so after avoiding contact with any birds in three days. Those who come to the farms must shower and change their clothing before entering. Employees must sign an agreement they will have no contact with any kinds of birds outside the workplace.

Industry officials are working to make sure all farms have similar measures in place.

"We have to improve the level of biosecurity at the farm level — that's where we've got to be more stringent," said Dr. Charles Beard, vice president of research and technology at the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association. "The events of the world now really add emphasis to get that done."

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