Avian Flu Raises Concerns on Economy

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Avian Flu Raises Concerns on Economy

By GAIL BRACCIDIFERRO

Published: March 23, 2003

THERE are so many people and businesses whose financial well-being is

tied to the eastern Connecticut egg farm where an outbreak of

influenza among chickens has been found, that First Selectman

Robbins of Bozrah said he didn't want to think about the potential

economic devastation from even a temporary shutdown of the farm.

From the Kofkoff Egg Farm's 300 employees and the trades people who

perform contract work there, to the railroad that hauls feed and the

gas dealer who supplies propane, Mr. Robbins said the farm was

integral to the economy of rural towns throughout the region.

''The impact to the town and the state would be terrible,'' he said

of a farm shutdown.

Local and state officials said, however, they were confident that

steps taken by Kofkoff and the State Department of Agriculture to

contain the avian flu outbreak would be enough to avoid a shutdown.

While officials said there was no risk of the disease being

transmitted to humans or other mammals and the eggs remain safe to

eat, two Kofkoff farms in Bozrah and Lebanon are under a quarantine

order. The disease can lower egg production in the birds and in some

cases can be fatal. A weak strain of the avian flu was detected in

the two farms that house some 3 million chickens, said Bruce

Gresczyk, acting commissioner of the agriculture department.

The state also is awaiting United States Department of Agriculture

approval for a pilot vaccination program that will prevent Kofkoff

from having to destroy chickens on the affected farms, he said.

The typical method of containing an avian flu outbreak is to kill the

birds, Mr. Gresczyk said. If Kofkoff was forced to do this, however,

it could take as long as two years before it could resume operations

at the affected farms, he said.

While Kofkoff will pay to vaccinate its birds, the law would require

the state to pay to kill the birds, Mr. Gresczyk said. He said he was

uncertain what it would cost to vaccinate or kill the birds.

''We are trying to ensure the survivability of the farm,'' Mr.

Gresczyk said. ''There is a significant impact beyond the farm

itself.''

Kofkoff has nearly 5 million chickens in lin, Lebanon, Hebron,

Colchester and Bozrah. The company produces about 2 million dozen

eggs a week for markets in the United States and Puerto Rico, Mr.

Gresczyk said. Kofkoff produces about 90 percent of the state's eggs.

Poultry is a $100 million business annually in Connecticut,

Darre, a professor and poultry extension specialist at the University

of Connecticut, said. In Bozrah, the Kofkoff property is assessed at

$5.5 million and the farm is among the town's top three taxpayers,

Mr. Robbins said.

In Lebanon, Kofkoff pays some $90,000 in property taxes annually and

is both the second and fourth largest taxpayer because of how its

business holdings are split.

''They are right up there as far as revenues to the town,'' First

Selectman McGuire of Lebanon said. ''I'm not going to tell you

it's not a concern, because it is.''

In lin, where Kofkoff owns a grain mill, the company also is

among the town's top 10 taxpayers, First Selectman Matters

said.

Mr. Gresczyk said Kofkoff accounted for 40 percent of the freight on

the New England Central Railroad between New London and Palmer, Mass.

Rock, president of the Connecticut Poultry Association, said he

had received a number of calls from poultry business people concerned

about the avian flu outbreak. They are particularly worried about a

quarantine spreading to other farms, which could prevent them from

shipping birds raised for meat, he said.

''It could be a big financial loss,'' he said.

After two weeks of testing that began in February at Kofkoff,

positive flu test results were found on farms on Mack Road in Lebanon

and on Schwartz Road in Bozrah. Three other facilities in Lebanon,

lin and Bozrah tested negative for the disease, while test

results have not been received for farms in Colchester and Hebron.

Mr. Gresczyk said it did not appear those facilities will test

positive, however, because birds there showed no signs of having the

flu.

Testing began after Kofkoff officials noticed lowered egg production,

as well as typical flu symptoms such as lack of appetite, runny beaks

and lethargy in some birds, he said.

Within two weeks, the state hopes to receive federal approval to

begin the vaccination program, Mr. Gresczyk said.

In the meantime, strict biosecurity measures are in place at all

Kofkoff facilities. All employees and vehicles entering and exiting

are being disinfected, personnel access is being limited and large

red and white ''No Trespassing'' signs have been posted.

Kofkoff management did not return repeated telephone calls for

comment.

Local and state officials praised the company's efforts in responding

to the outbreak. ''Kofkoff deserves the congratulations,'' Mr.

Gresczyk said.

Because the disease can be transmitted to other domesticated and wild

birds, residents with backyard poultry flocks are being warned to

take precautions. Mr. Darre at UConn's School of Agriculture and

Natural Resources said anyone with poultry should be sure to clean

their boots before and after tending their birds, have a set of

clothing they wear only for tending the birds, and be cautious about

who is allowed near their flocks.

''Especially if they have friends who have birds,'' he said.

Mr. Darre said that because wild waterfowl pose a threat for

spreading the disease, domestic flock owners should have a roof over

their flocks and secure fences.

An outbreak of avian flu in 1983 temporarily halted all poultry

exhibits at fairs.

''We did stop fairs for a year and a half,'' Mr. Darre said. ''But

that was a high pathogenic strain. We're on a wait and see basis

here.''

Mr. Darre said he was uncertain exactly how many backyard poultry

flocks exist in eastern Connecticut, but said many rural residents

raise a few birds for pets, showing, eggs, meat or 4-H projects.

Mr. Robbins said he thought there may be about 10 small poultry

farmers in Bozrah. State officials will be testing these flocks for

flu in coming weeks.

''I've had a couple of calls,'' he said. ''I think their concerns

were put to rest.''

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