H5N1 Bird Flu Devastates US Poultry: Pennsylvania Reports 7 Million Birds Lost in Weeks

Bird flu outbreaks continue to challenge US poultry operations, with Pennsylvania hit hardest in recent weeks. The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service confirmed multiple H5N1 detections this week in Lancaster County egg-layer and turkey facilities, affecting over 7 million birds across 11 commercial flocks and nine backyard flocks since early February, according to Farm Progress and CIDRAP reports. One site alone lost 2.6 million egg-layers, marking an unprecedented surge in the state.

Nationally, since the outbreak began, HPAI has impacted 190 million birds in 2,072 flocks across 50 states, per Washington State Department of Agriculture's February 17 update. In the last 30 days, 51 flocks were confirmed positive, including 23 commercial and 28 backyard, with 8.97 million birds affected. Washington's latest domestic case was February 2 in Yakima County backyard flocks, while wild bird detections persist through mid-February.

Human cases remain low risk, CDC reports on February 18. Since 2024, 71 US cases have been confirmed, mostly among dairy and poultry workers, with 41 linked to cattle herds—38 in California—and two deaths, including Louisiana's first. No person-to-person spread detected. Washington state tallies 12 cases, all tied to poultry.

Fresh developments emerged yesterday: San Juan County, Washington, announced two red foxes on San Juan Island tested positive for avian influenza on February 20, with no human links confirmed yet.

No new livestock cases nationwide in the past 30 days, and CDC surveillance shows steady monitoring of animal exposures.

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