It's been nearly two years since the start of the worst avian flu outbreak on record — but Louisiana has avoided any commercial or backyard flock infections.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that salmonella is responsible for 1.35 million infections, 26,500 hospitalizations, and 420 deaths in the United States every year.

A new platform launched by Antera looks to improve these numbers. The program offers a “BioBarrier” against salmonella through surveillance systems and data analytics for improved poultry productivity compliance.

Some 58.97 million birds, mostly egg-laying chickens and turkeys being raised for human consumption, have died in bird flu outbreaks that began in February 2022.

Aside from the economic implications of culling millions of birds due to avian flu outbreaks, the risk of increasing human infections has been a rising concern. 

Now, a study from researchers in China and England has discovered that a subtype of avian flu virus, endemic in poultry farms in China, is undergoing mutational changes, which could increase the risk of the disease being passed on to humans.

Falling chicken and pork prices as well as slowing demand for its beef products are reasons Tyson Foods cited on Monday for missing Wall Street expectations for third-quarter revenue and profit, Reuters reports.

Shares fell about 8%. The company said it is evaluating all operations and closing four more U.S. chicken plants in the latest bid to reduce costs, the article said.

Two North Louisiana men have pleaded guilty in a scheme to defraud their employer, Raeford Farms of Louisiana.

William Ross Hickman, 48, of Arcadia and Brian K. Whiteman, 47, of Haughton were charged with conspiracy to commit fraud in interstate commerce, costing their employer almost $2.2 million.