Bird Flu Outbreak Spreads Across US Poultry Farms: 15 Million Birds Affected in 30 Days

Bird flu outbreaks continue to sweep U.S. poultry operations, with highly pathogenic avian influenza confirmed in multiple states over the past week. The West Virginia Department of Agriculture announced on March 23 a case in a Kanawha County backyard flock of 220 birds, marking the state's third detection in 2026 and sixth since 2022, according to Farm and Dairy and WV Public. The site is under quarantine after testing at the state's lab in Moorefield.

Indiana faces severe impacts, with over 350,000 birds lost to HPAI since early March, amid the ongoing largest animal health emergency in U.S. history, Hoosier Ag Today reports. Under Secretary Dudley Hoskins urged strict biosecurity as spring migration heightens risks from wild birds carrying H5N1. The state has depopulated over 10 million birds since 2022, yet production remains strong.

Iowa reported two more backyard flock cases this month in Washington and Buena Vista Counties, its fifth and sixth in 2026, per Sentient Media. Experts like Iowa State University's Christa Hartsook warn the entire state is at risk during migration, with over 30 million birds affected since the outbreak began. No commercial flocks hit this year, but vigilance is key.

USDA APHIS data shows 15.2 million birds impacted in the last 30 days across 86 flocks, including commercial sites in Pennsylvania with 870,000 table egg layers, Maryland's 354,100 pullets, Michigan's 51,700 turkeys, and Indiana's 7,600 ducks, as detailed by CIDRAP. An Ohio backyard flock was also affected. Wild bird detections slowed to 25 cases nationwide.

No human cases reported recently, and cooked poultry, eggs, and pasteurized dairy remain safe. Officials stress biosecurity: enclose flocks, secure feed, limit access, disinfect gear, and report sick birds.

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