A U.S. fresh egg producer has temporarily closed a plant in southwest Texas after the H5N1 avian influenza virus was detected in chicken flocks.

Maine Foods of California said in a statement on Tuesday that it had destroyed about 1.6 million laying hens and another 337,000 young hens, equivalent to 3.6% of the company’s total chicken flock, after the virus was detected at the plant.

The company said it was working with government officials at all levels and other industry groups to “reduce the risk of future outbreaks.” The company said there is currently no known risk of avian influenza associated with eggs and no eggs have been recalled.

Tuesday’s announcement comes a day after Texas health officials announced that a person who had worked on a dairy farm where cows were infected with bird flu had tested positive for the virus. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control says this is the first case of avian influenza in a dairy cow.

In 2022, a person in the western state of Colorado tested positive for avian influenza after direct contact with poultry and culling the birds.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported bird flu outbreaks in 11 dairy herds in Texas, Kansas, Michigan and New Mexico.

Some information for this report comes from the Associated Press, Reuters,