Neb. poultry with bird flu headed to food supply

Associated Press - August 8, 2007 4:55 PM ET

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Agriculture officials say they have no concerns about sending turkeys that carry a mild strain of bird flu into the food supply.

A flock of turkeys in Seward County tested positive for the disease, prompting four countries to temporarily ban the import of Nebraska poultry.

Deputy state veterinarian Del Wilmot says the flock shows no sign of illness and is being prepared for processing.

Karen Eggert is with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. She explains that the turkeys tested positive for the antibodies that indicate a possible exposure to bird flu. That doesn't mean they carry the virus.

Eggert notes that humans cannot get sick from poultry that carries bird flu if it is cooked to the USDA's minimum internal temperature recommendation of 165 degrees.