
The presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) was confirmed in three commercial layer flocks in California on December 24.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) reported that the latest occurrences included a flock of 1,105,500 layers in Riverside County, a flock of 627,800 layers in San Joaquin County, and a Stanislaus County layer flock. APHIS has not yet disclosed the number of birds in the Stanislaus County flock.
California remains the state that has had the most flock and bird losses due to HPAI infections in 2024.
Avian flu in Illinois
According to APHIS, a flock of 40,300 commercial meat turkeys in Lawrence County, Illinois, was the site of a confirmed HPAI case on December 23.
This is the state’s second commercial flock to be struck by the virus in 2024. On December 13, the presence of the virus was confirmed in a flock 40,900 commercial turkey breeder hens in Livingston County.
Avian flu in Missouri
HPAI was confirmed in a flock of 13,000 turkey breeder hens in Cooper County, Missouri, on December 20. This is the fourth commercial operation in Missouri for APHIS to report to have been affected by HPAI in 2024.
The other three were all commercial meat turkey flocks in Dallas County, and all three instances were confirmed in February.
Updates on Michigan, Minnesota
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) earlier reported that HPAI had been detected in a commercial poultry flock in Ottawa County, but no further details were offered. The APHIS website now shows that the presence of HPAI was confirmed in a commercial meat turkey flock in Ottawa County on December 23.
This marks the eighth commercial flock in Michigan to be struck by HPAI in 2024.
APHIS also previously reported that a commercial met turkey flock in Chippewa County, Minnesota, had been hit by HPAI, but the agency has since updated its website to reflect that 54,800 birds were involved.
Avian flu in Canada
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) reported that on December 23, the presence of HPAI was confirmed in another commercial poultry flock in Chilliwack, British Columbia.
Further information concerning that flock has not yet been released.
With this latest detection, 19 flocks in Chilliwack and 52 in British Columbia have been affected by HPAI.
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.