COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS — Last week, more than 1.4 million chickens were culled in Robertson County after infectious laryngotracheitis (I.L.T.) — a rare respiratory infection — was detected in some of the birds, according to TheEagle.com. Texas Animal Health Commission officials emphasized I.L.T. isn’t dangerous for people, even if they eat meat infected with the disease,

Chickens with I.L.T. were discovered in farms near Texas 6 and Texas 14 more than a week ago, said Lampkin Butts, chief operating officer of Sanderson Farms. Chicken farmers whose birds are destroyed could face a significant financial impact, sources pointed out.

Because there is no food-safety threat, approximately 1 million of the culled birds are expected to be processed for food, however, meat from another 400,000 euthanized birds would not be distributed, Mr. Butts said.

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