How states ranked in HPAI cases at end of 2022

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) led to the loss of at least one commercial flock in 27 of the 50 U.S. states in 2022.

But some of those 27 affected states were much harder hit. Below is a list that ranks the states by how many flocks have been depopulated as a result of HPAI infections. The information used to compile this list was obtained from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) as well as some state agriculture agencies. This list includes the confirmed cases of HPAI in 2022 alone.

1. Minnesota

Minnesota by far had the most flocks affected by HPAI in 2022, with 81. All but one case was either in a commercial meat turkey flock or turkey breeding stock flock, with the other being a commercial layer flock. The first two cases in Minnesota were confirmed on March 26, while the most recent one was confirmed on December 12.

2. South Dakota

South Dakota ranked second with 61 affected flocks. Most of this state’s confirmed cases also involved some sort of turkey operation, but upland gamebird operations and two layer flocks were also affected, as was one breeder flock of an unspecified species. The state’s first case was confirmed on March 5, while the most recent case was confirmed on December 20.

3. Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania had 25 HPAI-affected flocks in 2022. The types of operations infected in Pennsylvania was diverse, with the broiler, layer, turkey and duck industries affected. The two most recent cases were confirmed on November 10, whereas the first case of HPAI in the state was confirmed on April 15.

4. Iowa

HPAI was confirmed in 24 commercial flocks in Iowa, affecting both the turkey and egg industries. The first case in the state was confirmed on March 6, while the most recent cases were reported on December 12, when four cases were confirmed in four counties.

5. Utah

Utah ranked fifth with 19 cases of HPAI. All but one case occurred in commercial meat turkey flocks, with the remaining case involving a layer flock. Utah’s first case was confirmed on April 25 while its most recent case was confirmed on October 25.

6. California

The presence of HPAI was confirmed in 15 California flocks during the year. The operations affected were been diverse, involving the broiler, turkey, egg, duck and upland gamebird industries. The first case was confirmed on August 22 and the most recent case was confirmed on December 22.

7. Wisconsin

Eleven commercial flocks in Wisconsin were struck by HPAI in 2022. These cases involved turkeys, layers, ducks and upland gamebirds. All cases were confirmed between March 14 and November 7.

8. Indiana 

Ten commercial flocks in Indiana had the presence of HPAI confirmed, while an 11^th flock was depopulated because of its close association with a previously infected flock. All flocks affected either involved meat turkeys, meat ducks or duck breeding stock. Among these cases was the first confirmed case of HPAI in a U.S. commercial flock, confirmed in a turkey operation on February 8, whereas the last case was confirmed on December 13. 

9. North Carolina

North Carolina had nine commercial flocks affected. Six of those cases involved turkeys and the other three involved broilers. All nine cases were confirmed within a short window of time, ranging from March 29 to April 12.

10. Missouri and Colorado

Missouri had eight flocks affected by HPAI. Six of those involved commercial meat turkeys, one was a turkey breeder replacement hen flock, and the other was a broiler flock. The first six cases were confirmed between March 4 and April 6, while the final two cases were confirmed on November 29 and December 9.

Eight cases were also reported in Colorado, with five of those being egg layer flocks. One layer pullet flock, one broiler breeder flock and one upland gamebird operation were also affected. The state’s first case was confirmed on April 19 and the most recent was confirmed on September 21.

12. Nebraska

 Nebraska had seven flocks infected, involving broilers, layers and upland gamebirds. These cases were all confirmed between March 22 and November 25.

13. North Dakota and Maryland

All five cases in North Dakota involved commercial meat turkeys. The first case in the state was confirmed on April 1, while the most recent case was confirmed on September 27.

Five flocks in Maryland were also struck by HPAI. Two of those were layer flocks, one was a layer pullet flock, one was a layer breeder flock and the other was a broiler flock. Four of those cases were confirmed in March, but the final case of the year was confirmed on December 22.

15. Delaware and Tennessee

Delaware had three confirmed cases in 2022. All three affected different types of operations. These cases involved a commercial layer flock, a commercial layer pullet flock and a broiler flock. All of these cases were confirmed in March.

All three of Tennessee’s cases in 2022 involved commercial broiler breeders. The first case was confirmed on November 15 while the other two were confirmed on December 28.

17. Kentucky

Kentucky had two confirmed cases in 2022, with both of those cases confirmed in February. They were the second and third confirmed cases in commercial poultry in 2022. One was a broiler flock and the other was a turkey flock.

States with one case

The following states had one confirmed case in a commercial flock in 2022: Washington, Arkansas, Mississippi, Ohio, Kansas, Michigan, Idaho, Oklahoma, New York and Texas.

To learn more about HPAI cases in commercial poultry flocks in the United States and Canada, see an interactive map on WATTPoultry.com. 

Read our ongoing coverage of the global avian influenza outbreak.