Second Bird Flu Case In Delaware

Avian flu has been found on a second farm in southern Delaware, state agriculture officials said Tuesday, a discovery that threatens to further hamper exports of U.S. poultry.

The disease was not found in one of 20 chicken houses tested in a two-mile radius around the farm where the first flock tested positive last week, but was found in a commercial flock of roaster-type chickens at least five miles away, the state agriculture department said.

"This development is completely unexpected given the precautions we took, the investigation we made and the industry's expectations of this disease's behavior," Agriculture Secretary Michael T. Scuse said. "We will be taking immediate actions to contain this disease."

Sales of live poultry now are banned officially in the First State, reports Mark Fowser of CBS Radio affiliate WILM. Officials have decided to recommend calling off poultry grower-related meetings and even auctions of farm equipment.

The disease was first found on a farm in southern Kent County operated by an independent grower who sold to the live bird market in New York City.

State officials immediately ordered the slaughter of 12,000 birds and began testing flocks within the 2-mile radius of the infected site. Tests on 20 chicken houses within that radius were negative, the department said.

Scuse said this H-7 type of flu is not the same strain that has caused human deaths and illnesses in Asia, reports Fowser.

The discovery of the second case, in northern Sussex County, was sure to hurt efforts to lift bans by foreign countries on imports of U.S. poultry.

On Tuesday, China joined Poland, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea in banning U.S. poultry imports because of the discovery of avian flu in the first Delaware flock. Hong Kong banned the import of live birds and poultry from Delaware only.

Russia, the single largest foreign market for U.S. poultry, said Monday it was temporarily banning the import of most poultry products from Delaware. The Russian ban applies to live birds, incubated eggs, and all poultry products that have not undergone thermal treatment, as well as feed and feed additives, Russia's Veterinary Service said.

Russia said bans on poultry from nearby states would be considered if bird flu is found outside the infected site. Mexico said Monday that it has also stopped importing poultry from Delaware.