On Thursday, UEP hosted a call with over 400 producer members to provide updates on the rapidly evolving HPAI outbreak. UEP’s SVP of Food Safety and Regulatory Affairs, Oscar Garrison, and President and CEO, Chad Gregory, shared the latest layer detections as well as an overview of recent detections occurring in dairy cattle herds. Garrison provided updates on two commercial table egg flocks that were confirmed for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Ionia County, Michigan, and Parmer County, Texas, last week. These detections accounted for more than 3.7 million layer flock losses. Additionally, UEP is tracking two other non-negative cases in Michigan near Iona County.
Since February 2022, 85.87 million birds have been affected, with HPAI detected on 1,118 flocks. Of those, 475 are commercial, and 643 are backyard flocks. Wild bird detections continue to trickle up, totaling in 9,255 birds.
Following UEP’s update, American Egg Board’s (AEB) President and CEO, Emily Metz, shared insights on HPAI media tracking and consumer engagement plans to help ensure the industry continues working to improve consumer confidence and trust.
UEP will continue to engage with colleagues across the dairy industry, USDA-APHIS, state veterinarians, and other stakeholders to understand what is taking place and how to move forward. As the situation develops, UEP will continue keeping members apprised and up to date on information regarding the ongoing HPAI outbreak.
UEP strongly recommends that producers determine whether employees on farms also work on dairy farms or have consistent contact with individuals working on livestock farms. Biosecurity remains the best and only defense to keep HPAI off farms.
View the 2022-2024 confirmations of HPAI in commercial and backyard flocks here. Review 2022-2024 detections of HPAI in wild birds here. View the latest HPAI detections in livestock here.
In related news, the Livestock Marketing Association recently reported that cattle movement restrictions are in place due to HPAI detections in herds in at least 17 states, including Arkansas, Kentucky, Nebraska, and Tennessee.
