Tyson eradicates chickens exposed to mild bird flu

CHICAGO, June 3 (Reuters) - U.S. meat company Tyson Foods Inc (TSN.N) said on Tuesday it will eradicate a flock of about 15,000 chickens in northwest Arkansas that had been exposed to a mild strain of bird flu and will test other chicken flocks in the area for bird flu.

The affected chickens will not enter the food supply.

The chickens had antibodies of a mild, or low pathogenic, strain of bird flu and were not a threat to humans, the company said. The chickens were not sick and the antibodies were discovered as part of pre-slaughter surveillance by the company.

Shares of Tyson Foods fell more than 9 percent on New York Stock Exchange trading on Tuesday, but by early afternoon were down about 6 percent, or $1.13, at $17.33. (Reporting by Bob Burgdorfer)