China, Japan, Russia bar state poultry after flu case

SPRINGDALE - Japan, China and Russia have banned the import of chicken from Arkansas after avian flu was discovered in a single flock on June 16.

A U.S. Department of Agriculture spokesman said by e-mail Wednesday that exports to the three counties have been stopped for the time being and that similar bans were enacted in the past when low-pathogenic avian flu was discovered in the U.S. The agency noted no affected birds entered the food chain and the ban is simply a precaution by the three counties.

Arkansas ranks second in broiler production in the U.S.behind Georgia, according to data from the department.

The 9,000 chickens being raised in Scott County for Springdale-based Tyson Foods exposed to avian flu, also known as H7N7, were isolated, euthanized and disposed of to prevent the spread of the disease. State health officials said the positive test doesn’t pose a public health threat since avian flu can’t be transmitted through the consumption of properly prepared poultry.

Preston Scroggin, director of the Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commission, said Wednesday a quarantine area of 6.2 miles from the the affected farm is in place. He said the first round of testing of flocks, including commercial and backyard birds, was completed Tuesday and no sign of the disease was found.

“We feel good where we’re at right now,” Scroggin said.

He said they would test again in 10 days and if no sign of the disease is found, the area will be monitored for an additional 90 days. Scroggin said if no signs of the flu are found he’s hopeful the countries banning the Arkansas chicken will reconsider.

Chickens can get avian flu through infected waterfowl or water contaminated by waterfowl. Officials believe recent flooding in Scott County was a contributing factor.

Worth Sparkman, a Tyson Foods spokesman, said the company plans to meet the demands for chicken by the countries banning Arkansas chicken with plants from other states.

Bill Roenigk, the National Chicken Council’s senior vice president and chief economist, said the ban isn’t good for U.S. poultry producers, but it’s manageable as long as it is short. He said the bans typically go as long as 90 days with China being an exception and sometimes withholding imports for years.

The last outbreak of avian influenza in Arkansas was in early June 2008 in Hogeye in Washington County where 15,000 birds belonging to Tyson Foods were destroyed. Japan, Russia, Mexico and Chile restricted imports at the time. The quarantine was lifted in mid-July of the same year.

Business, Pages 25 on 06/27/2013

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