Despite a significant decrease in the number of confirmed cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) over recent months, fresh outbreaks continue to wreak havoc on avian populations across the United States, as revealed by a blend of federal and local reports.
In the latest twist, a staggering 102,000 commercial broilers fell victim to an HPAI outbreak in Gage County, Neb., while an additional 67,200 commercial broiler breeders faced the same fate in Delta County, Colo., according to statistics compiled by the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).
Adding to the unfolding drama, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Veterinary Diagnostic Lab sounded the alarm after birds at a commercial turkey operation in Lenoir County tested positive for HPAI, marking the state’s first encounter with the virus since 2022. This latest confirmation, ratified by the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, serves as a stark reminder of the persistent threat posed by HPAI.
Despite indications of a downward trend since November of 2023, HPAI transmission rates remain volatile. Astonishingly, APHIS reports that a whopping 81.87 million U.S. birds have succumbed to the virus since the outbreak was officially recognized on February 8, 2022. This grim tally encompasses 1,092 flocks scattered across 47 states, comprising both commercial operations and backyard flocks, with 466 and 626 incidents reported, respectively, according to APHIS’s latest briefing.
