The relentless spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) persists with new outbreaks reported in Iowa, Alabama, and Alaska. Despite recent efforts to enhance biosecurity measures nationwide, the number of confirmed cases continues to rise.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship have confirmed a sixth HPAI outbreak in Iowa, marking the fourth occurrence in the past 11 days. While specific details about the affected commercial turkey flock in Buena Vista County were not immediately disclosed, the region has already recorded nearly 100,000 confirmed HPAI cases since October 23, according to the USDA’s updated map of HPAI outbreaks. Additional cases in Guthrie and Pocahontas Counties had been previously reported by the USDA.
Simultaneously, the USDA confirmed an HPAI outbreak at a commercial gamebird producer in Chilton County, Alabama, affecting 296,500 birds. Additionally, outbreaks were identified in two backyard flocks in Matanuska Susitna County, Alaska, impacting 40 birds, as reported by the USDA.
These new cases bring the total number of U.S. states grappling with HPAI to 14 since the onset of the 2023 fall bird migration, according to updated USDA data. Despite ongoing efforts to contain the spread, the challenges posed by HPAI continue to impact poultry operations across the nation.
