Avian flu hits broilers in 3 states, layers in another

APHIS reports new cases in Georgia, Maryland, Missouri and Virginia and offers new information on the situation in Indiana.

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Highly pathogenic avian influenza was recently confirmed in broilers in Georgia, Maryland and Virginia.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza was recently confirmed in broilers in Georgia, Maryland and Virginia.
Yurii Bukhanovskyi | Bigstock

Commercial broiler flocks in Georgia, Maryland and Virginia and a commercial layer flock in Missouri were struck by highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) reported that the presence of the virus was confirmed in all four flocks on January 21.

Avian flu in Missouri

APHIS reported that the most recent instance of HPAI in a commercial layer was confirmed in Newton County, Missouri. There were 1,175,800 birds in the flock.

This is the state’s second layer flock to be struck by HPAI in 2025. The earlier flock infection, also in Newton County, involved 1,585,100 hens.

Avian flu in Georgia

Elbert County, Georgia, had its second commercial poultry flock struck by HPAI. It involved a flock of 13,400 broilers.

Four days earlier, a flock of 45,500 commercial broiler breeders was affected by the virus. Prior to that, the only type of flock in the state where HPAI was detected during the 2022-25 outbreak was a commercial raised-for-release waterfowl flock, with that case having been confirmed in 2023.

Avian flu in Virginia

A commercial flock of 441,000 broilers in Accomack County, Virginia, is the state’s first instance of HPAI in nearly two years. The last time HPAI appeared in a commercial operation in Virginia was January 25, 2023, when 11,100 commercial turkeys in Rockingham County were affected.

Avian flu in Maryland

Also confirmed as HPAI-positive on January 21 was a commercial flock of 108,000 broilers in Caroline County, Maryland.

This is Caroline County’s second flock to be struck by HPAI in 2025, and Maryland’s third. All three flocks involved commercial broilers.

Avian flu in Indiana

APHIS previously reported the presence of HPAI in a commercial layer flock and a commercial turkey flock, both in Jay County, Indiana. An update on the APHIS website revealed that 353,300 layers and 18,800 turkeys were affected.

On the same day APHIS offered its update, the Indiana State Board of Animal Health reported via email that the presence of HPAI was detected in a flock of about 26,000 layers in Allen County. Control measures are being put in place.

APHIS has not yet listed the Allen County case as confirmed.

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.   

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