Bird Flu Outbreak Spreads Across US: Pennsylvania and Indiana Face Worst Avian Flu Crisis as Spring Migration Accelerates H5N1 Risk

Bird flu outbreaks continue to ravage U.S. poultry flocks as spring migration heightens risks. In the last 24 hours, Inside Climate News reports Pennsylvania as the epicenter, with over 480 wild bird cases and nearly 16 million domesticated birds affected since 2022, including six million in the past 30 days alone. Snow geese, Canada geese, crows, mallards, hawks, owls, and 48 bald eagles have tested positive there.

Indiana faces its largest animal health emergency in history, according to Hoosier Ag Today and the Indiana Board of Animal Health. Since early March, highly pathogenic avian influenza or HPAI has killed over 350,000 birds, with a new case confirmed March 23 in an Elkhart County commercial meat duck flock of 4,575 birds now quarantined. Over 10 million Indiana birds have been depopulated since 2022. Officials urge vigilant biosecurity amid migrating wild birds carrying the H5N1 strain.

West Virginia Department of Agriculture confirmed its third backyard flock case of 2026 on March 23 in Kanawha County, affecting 220 birds now under quarantine. Iowa saw backyard chicken detections this month in Washington and Buena Vista counties, per Sentient Media, marking its fifth and sixth cases of the year amid high migration risks.

Washington State Department of Agriculture noted its first Skagit County domestic flock case on March 20 in backyard chickens, tied to Pacific Flyway migration. Nationwide, HPAI has hit over 2,000 premises in all 50 states since 2022, the biggest U.S. animal health crisis ever, with wild waterfowl as primary carriers.

No new human cases reported recently; CDC assesses public health risk as low. Cooked poultry, eggs, and pasteurized dairy remain safe. Experts stress enclosing flocks, securing feed, limiting visitors, and reporting sick birds.

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