In the past week, the cool weather has accelerated the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), resulting in the emergence of 10 new cases in commercial flocks, according to the latest report from the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
A significant development occurred in Benton County, Missouri, where the state recorded its first HPAI case in almost a year. This outbreak affected a commercial flock comprising 16,600 birds. Additionally, newly reported cases include a 71,000-bird turkey flock in Minnesota, three turkey flocks in South Dakota totaling 183,700 birds, and a 4,000-bird poultry flock in Montana.
Beyond the U.S. borders, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has added another commercial poultry farm to the list of sites affected by HPAI. This marks the sixth case in the province of Alberta.
The situation is particularly worrisome in British Columbia, where a single day saw the confirmation of six HPAI outbreaks. This brings the total number of active HPAI cases in the province to 28, necessitating urgent attention and response measures.
The escalating spread of HPAI highlights the critical need for enhanced surveillance and biosecurity protocols to curb the risk of further outbreaks. Authorities and stakeholders are actively engaged in monitoring and responding to contain the situation and protect poultry populations in the affected regions.
