POULTRY, EGG GROUPS PREPARE FOR BIRD FLU

JULIE GALLAGHER

WASHINGTON - Egg and poultry groups are bracing for a possible outbreak of the deadly H5N1 strain of avian influenza, or bird flu.

"If a commercial flock were to become infected with either the H5N1 or H7N1 strain of AI, that flock would be put down immediately," said Richard Lobb, spokesman, National Chicken Council, here. "We'd also take the necessary steps [to inform] the news media and have trusted sources provide statements relating to the safety of the food supply."

The American Egg Board, Park Ridge, Ill., and the Egg Safety Center here have developed a crisis communication program and damage control strategy to help protect the industry in the event of a domestic outbreak, according to the AEB's newsletter for retailers. Representatives designated by the ESC will monitor the media and public health environment to determine if and when damage control measures are necessary.

Last month, 17 new countries in Africa, Europe and Asia, including the Middle East, reported that the H5N1 virus had spread to wild or domestic birds, according to the World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland. Poultry sales have taken a nosedive in many of the impacted countries.

"We have no reasons to believe that there has been a significant impact on [poultry] consumption in the U.S. and we hope it stays that way," Lobb said.

About 46% of chicken-eating Americans polled in a recent Harvard School of Public Health survey said they would stop eating chicken if bird flu hits the U.S. poultry industry. When poultry products are safely handled and properly cooked, humans are not at risk of acquiring H5N1 infection through food. WHO's director-general reconfirmed that message in a statement last week.

USA Poultry & Egg Export Council has spent more than $1 million in a campaign designed to reassure consumers, with the goal of promoting poultry consumption worldwide. USAPEEC is working with the International Poultry Council on the "Poultry is safe, Just cook it" campaign.

"Consumption is down around the world, in many cases as much as 20% to 30%, which is having a big impact on exports from the U.S." said Toby Moore, spokesman for the USAPEEC, Stone Mountain, Ga. "It doesn't help that this is one of the biggest news stories around right now. Consumers read and hear all the doom-and-gloom news and are, quite understandably, unsure whether eating poultry is safe."

Italy has experienced a 70% drop in poultry sales, while Greece's have fallen 40% to 50% and France's have dropped by about 15%, according to WHO. All three countries reported cases of the H5N1 virus in birds last month. The United States exports the most poultry to Russia, Romania, China, Japan and Iraq, and doesn't export any products to the European Union, according to Moore.