An avian flu crisis has hit California's chicken population, and experts are warning of a looming chicken and egg shortage as a result.
More than 3 million chickens have been euthanized, and the California Poultry Federation is working hard to protect the remaining chickens, implementing lockdowns and extra precautions on farms.
Dr. Suman Radhakrishna with Dignity Health told L.A.'s Afternoon News that while there will be a shortage of chicken products, the average consumer doesn't have much else to worry about.
Dr. Radhakrishna said, "If you are like me, who goes to a grocery store and picks up all your food materials, you should be ok."
"If a bird dies and you handle the chickens, then you might be at risk," but "Avian flu for humans is not as significant," Radhakrishna said.
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If a person contracted avian flu, Dr. Radhakrishna said experiences can range from mild flu-like symptoms to death in the rare, more severe cases. However, "Thankfully, humans don't get it as much. And poultry products, not as much as long as you follow the guidelines," said the doctor.
The FDA has recommended that consumers increase the target internal temperature of cooked eggs to 160 to 165 °F to ensure they are free of avian flu.
As a Californian, you may be wondering if your favorite farmer's market eggs are safe. Dr. Radhakrishna recommends following the FDA temperature guidelines and adds, "If you like your eggs runny, you need to have it between 140-145 °F for at least three minutes," which should take care of it.
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