U.S. Turkey Safe for Thanksgiving Despite Bird Flu

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Despite a worldwide alert for a deadly form of bird flu, Americans can eat their traditional Thanksgiving turkey without fear of illness, two senior U.S. disease fighters said on Thursday, one week before the holiday.

"There is absolutely no evidence that we have this strain of H5N1 (avian influenza) in animals or in humans in the United States," said Ron DeHaven, head of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Julie Gerberding, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, concurred at a Senate hearing.

For DeHaven, it was the second day in a row he was called to Capitol Hill to assure farm-state lawmakers -- and consumers -- that U.S.-grown turkeys and chickens were safe to eat.

"The take-home message is the consumer does not need to be concerned about the health of poultry they may bring home," said House Agriculture Committee chairman Bob Goodlatte, after questioning DeHaven on Wednesday.

Americans consume about 103 lbs (47 kg) of poultry apiece each year. Most are raised on large, commercial farms with safeguards that include closely monitoring birds for disease, discouraging visitors, and keeping birds enclosed to avoid contact with other wildlife.

The U.S. Agriculture Department has a network in place to respond to reports of unusual disease.