Deadly Bird Flu Outbreak Ravages U.S. Poultry Industry

Bird flu continues to make headlines across the United States, with new outbreaks reported in both backyard and commercial flocks. Georgia agriculture officials announced on Friday that a backyard flock in metro Atlanta tested positive for the highly contagious H5N1 avian influenza strain. This marks the second confirmed case in a Georgia backyard flock this year and highlights ongoing concerns for both backyard and commercial poultry operations. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, since 2022, more than 175 million birds have been affected nationwide, making this the deadliest animal disease outbreak in U.S. history.

Recent CDC surveillance confirms that human infections remain rare, with 70 confirmed cases and one fatality in the U.S. by mid-2025. However, researchers at the University of Maryland Institute for Health Computing warn that undetected cases may exist due to limited testing for individuals exposed to infected birds and farm animals. Their use of generative AI revealed several high-risk patients whose potential infections went unnoticed, underscoring gaps in the national detection strategy.

The risk to commercial operations remains high. In the last week, turkey farms in North Dakota and South Dakota have reported fresh outbreaks—the first known commercial cases in the country in several months. The rapid response by agriculture officials aims to contain further spread, with increased monitoring and possible culling operations likely in affected zones.

Experts anticipate additional outbreaks as wild bird migration picks up this fall. Data transparency is an ongoing issue. Scientists, including those at UC Davis, argue that farm-level data should be shared more widely to improve outbreak tracking and research, but confidentiality practices still silo much critical information. This hampers efforts to fully understand how the virus moves between bird populations and across regions.

Globally, bird flu remains a concern. The World Health Organization recently noted ongoing H5N1 transmission in wildlife and occasional spillover events in Europe and Asia. New variants remain under scrutiny for any signs of increased human transmissibility.

While the overall threat to the general public remains low, experts urge continued vigilance among poultry farmers, wildlife handlers, and health care systems. Early detection, rapid containment, and clear communication are key to preventing larger outbreaks and protecting the nation’s food supply.

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