Avian Flu Ravages U.S. Poultry Industry, Sparking Calls for Action

Bird flu continues to ravage U.S. poultry operations with no signs of abatement. According to a STAT News analysis published January 14, the H5N1 outbreak since 2022 has claimed nearly 185 million birds, mostly culled preemptively, equivalent to half the U.S. population if they were people. Cases surged in 25 states last month after a summer lull, with January 2025 marking the worst month on record and 2025 worse than 2024.

USDA APHIS reports major commercial outbreaks in the last 40 days affecting 1.17 million birds across 70 flocks, including 17 commercial ones. Highlights include 147,900 broilers in Kent County, Delaware; 71,300 at a broiler breeder facility in Walker County, Georgia; and 9,000 turkey breeder hens in Meeker County, Minnesota. Smaller hits struck Colorado, Kansas, and Oregon. Since February 2022, over 185 million birds in 2,022 flocks have been impacted. Wild bird detections, especially in mallards, numbered 80 nationwide this week, signaling endemic spread.

The egg industry bears 75% of losses, driving up consumer costs by $14.5 billion in one year alone, per STAT. Taxpayers have footed $1.8 billion in USDA indemnifications over three years. Experts like veterinary scientists Ellen P. Carlin and Gwendolen Reyes-Illg argue in STAT that available USDA-licensed vaccines could slash outbreaks, as seen in France with 99% reduction in ducks, but Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins deems them off the table over trade concerns, despite a draft national strategy.

Human risk remains low. The CDC's FluView for the week ending January 10 reports no new avian H5N1 infections in people and no person-to-person spread. Seasonal flu dominates, with hospitalizations dropping slightly but still high.

Calls grow for vaccination from bipartisan lawmakers like Sen. Mike Rounds and trade groups, amid warnings of pandemic potential.

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