Not since July 19 has the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) been confirmed in any U.S. poultry flocks, but the virus has still taken a toll on the poultry industry in 2024.
During the first seven months of the year, 56 commercial flocks have been affected by HPAI, involving nearly 21 million birds, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).
Monthly breakdown
January saw more U.S. commercial flocks struck by HPAI than any other month so far in 2024, with 13 flocks affected, with 2,023,700 birds involved.
April was the month with the next most flock infections at 11, however it was the month that had the most birds affected by HPAI with 8,789,400
The only other month to have the number of flock infections reach double digits was May, with 10 farms affected. May ranked as the month with the second-most birds affected at 5,854,900.
This graph shows how many flocks were infected with avian influenza each month so far in 2024.Denise O'Keefe
The only other month to see a loss of more than 1 million birds was July, with 3,446,900. Six flocks were struck by the virus in July.
Eight commercial flocks were affected and 545,600 birds were lost in June, while February saw seven flock infections and the loss of 293,600 head of poultry.
HPAI struck only one U.S. flock in March, with 31,200 birds involved.
Species breakdown
Most of the U.S. flock infections of 2024 have involved the turkey industry, but it was the egg industry that lost the most birds.
This graph shows the commercial flock types affected by avian influenza to date in 2024.Denise O'Keefe
APHIS has reported 26 commercial meat turkey flock infections, as well as three turkey breeder hen flocks and one turkey breeder tom flock. Collectively, those translated into the loss of 1,246,500 turkeys.
Nine laying hen flocks and three pullet flocks have been affected to date in 2024, and those 12 flocks collectively involved 18,744,300 birds.
Three broiler flocks and 714,700 broiler chickens have been affected by HPAI in the U.S. this year, while one broiler breeder flock of 66,500 was affected.
Three flocks simply identified as “poultry” have also been struck by HPAI, with those bird losses collectively amounting to 143,300.
Six upland gamebird flocks have also been hit by the virus in 2024, with bird losses reaching 67,000.
Cases by state
Minnesota is the only state to have flock infection numbers in the double digits, with 18 cases so far in 2024.
However, Michigan has had the most bird losses in 2024, with 6,724,00 birds affected among seven flocks.
Other states to have commercial poultry flocks affected by HPAI in 2024 are Colorado, Iowa, Texas, South Dakota, Missouri, North Carolina, Nebraska, Indiana, Kansas, California and Wisconsin.
View our continuing coverage of the global avian influenza situation.
To learn more about HPAI cases in commercial poultry flocks in the United States, Mexico and Canada, see an interactive map on WATTPoultry.com.
