Avian influenza spreads to seven further US states - CIDRAP
Outbreaks reported in poultry and dairy cattle
13 February 2025
2 minute read
By: H5N1 avian influenza outbreaks continue to spread in commercial and backyard poultry across the United States. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed five detections in dairy cattle, all in California, and over 50 outbreaks in wild bird populations across several states, according to a recent news release from the University of Minnesota's Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy (CIDRAP).
Commercial and backyard farms hit
APHIS reported avian influenza outbreaks in further poultry flocks across seven states over the past two days. Several of the outbreaks occurred on commercial farms.
Outbreaks were confirmed on four layer farms and three turkey farms in Ohio, which has already been quite hard hit by the virus. In Pennsylvania, the virus was reported on five commercial farms.
Outbreaks have been reported on two more farms in Missouri, including a turkey farm in Lawrence County and a broiler farm in Newton County.
Meanwhile, federal officials confirmed findings at two more live bird markets in New York’s Queens and Bronx counties. Earlier detections at live markets in Queens, the Bronx, and Brooklyn prompted New York’s governor last week to announce a temporary closure of live bird markets in New York City, Westchester, Suffolk and Nassau counties.
APHIS also reported new outbreaks in backyard flocks in Louisiana’s Calcasieu County, Washington’s Mason County, and Connecticut’s New London County.
Since the virus first emerged in US poultry in early 2022, outbreaks have led to the loss of a record 157.7 million birds across all 50 states and Puerto Rico.
With detections continuing in domestic and wild birds, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development urges poultry owners to continue taking steps to protect birds, especially as wild birds begin their spring migration.
Although it’s impossible to predict what will happen in the spring, officials said: “It is certain that this disease will continue to impact Michigan's animal agriculture, and taking preventative measures to keep HPAI away from domestic birds remains essential.”
More detections in cows and wild birds
APHIS confirmed five more detections in dairy cattle, all from California. The latest additions lift the national total to 962 and California’s total to 744.
The virus also continues its heavy toll in wild birds. APHIS today added more than 50 H5N1 confirmations to its list of birds found dead in several states, which includes gulls, geese, ducks, and birds of prey.
The list also includes hunter-harvested and live-sampled waterfowl from states including Louisiana, Indiana, Arizona, Nebraska, Oregon, and Michigan.
