since the chickens have been sick with the flu, I decided to stop eating it. Some sick chicken may very well get past the inspections. a number of other things do.
I wouldn't worry about it. Getting the virus is very rare in humans. When infected, it could be just conjunctivitis or flu and those are easily treated. Of course, if you're immune-deficient, that's a different story.
If you want to be on the safe side then you shouldn't eat pork, either, because they can contract the disease from chickens.
I think there's too many "hyped up" alarms in this country anymore. Remember the "deadliest virus to come along in years" just a couple years ago and how they panicked people? Where is it today?
Avian flu comes around every couple years and most chicken farms are on the lookout for it 24/7. It's odd that when it does hit and widely alarming people, prices jump on the chicken products, but never come down. I believe the hype is to generate reasons for rising prices on the products.
Same with beef and pork. When there's a problem with the beef and pork, prices jump and never come down. Right now, it's because of the drought in the west, which is a reasonable explanation and farmers have sold off their cattle because of it so demand and supply is out of balance.
Just watch the fruit and produce.prices right drastically in the coming months because of the drought. Be prepared for that because without a miracle, it will happen.