HOUSTON - At least 17 people were sickened Friday in an ammonia leak at a northeast meat packing plant in the US state of Texas.

According to local TV channel ABC13, the leak occurred in the afternoon at the Pilgrim's Pride poultry plant in Mount Pleasant, about 176 km northeast of Dallas.

Seventeen people were sent to hospital for examination as a precaution, and no serious injuries or illnesses were found, a spokeswoman at Titus Regional Medical Center in Mount Pleasant was quoted as saying.

The spokeswoman said the hospital had initially been told to expect as many as 40 people potentially exposed to the leak.