ISTANBUL, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Turkey has begun exporting

around 15,000 tonnes of eggs to the United States, where an

ongoing outbreak of bird flu disrupted supply, sent prices

soaring and led to talks with other producers, a leading sector

official said on Wednesday.

Ibrahim Afyon, chairman of the Egg Producers Central Union

(YUM-BIR) in Turkey, told Reuters that shipments began this

month and will continue until July.

"The export will take place through our member companies

with the required authorizations, while two firms will

coordinate the process," Afyon said.

"A total of 15,000 tonnes of eggs - equivalent to 700

containers - will be shipped."

The U.S. has been working to contain the spread of bird flu,

which was first detected in dairy cattle in Texas last March and

has since spread to multiple states. The virus has infected

nearly 70 people since April, including one fatal case,

primarily among farm workers exposed to infected poultry or

cattle.

An outbreak in poultry that began in 2022 has wiped out

about 160 million chickens, turkeys and other birds,

contributing to egg shortages.

In response, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has

granted conditional approval to animal health company Zoetis ( ZTS )

for the use of a bird flu vaccine in poultry.

The agency is also rebuilding a stockpile of vaccines

tailored to the current strain affecting commercial flocks and

wild birds.

Faced with supply constraints, U.S. firms have sought

alternative import markets, leading to negotiations with Turkish

producers, Afyon said.

He said the deal is expected to generate around $26 million

in export revenue.

Turkey ranks among the world's top 10 egg exporters, Afyon

added.