The ongoing outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in the United States has reached a critical milestone, with cumulative poultry losses from 2022 to 2026 surpassing 200 million birds. According to data from the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), the total number of birds lost crossed this threshold on March 10, 2026, after two large commercial flocks in Wisconsin—1.62 million pullets and 1.49 million laying hens—tested positive for HPAI. Combined, these pushed total commercial poultry losses to 200,650,010 birds. Including commercial upland gamebirds, losses reached 201,752,650 birds.
Egg Industry Hit the Hardest
- Throughout the 2022–2026 outbreak, the egg‑laying sector has suffered the most severe impact.
- By mid‑February 2026, national hen and pullet losses had already exceeded 150 million, highlighting an industry under sustained pressure.
- The predominance of losses within layer flocks reflects the virus’s particular efficiency in spreading through high‑density egg production facilities.
Indiana’s 2026 Surge Intensifies the Situation
Indiana has emerged as a significant hotspot in the early months of 2026. On March 10, APHIS confirmed four additional commercial infections in the state—three involving meat duck flocks and one affecting a commercial meat turkey operation in Jay County. The turkey flock consisted of 20,600 birds, while the duck flocks in Elkhart and LaGrange counties totaled 28,200 birds combined. Indiana has already lost 15 commercial flocks in 2026 alone, underscoring the continuing volatility of the outbreak.
Broiler, Turkey, Egg, and Duck Industries Affected
- The losses span multiple sectors of the U.S. poultry industry.
- Broiler, turkey, egg, and duck operations have all experienced large‑scale depopulations as HPAI continues its spread.
- The widespread nature of the outbreak points to persistent structural vulnerabilities, especially in regions with high poultry density or frequent farm‑to‑farm contact.
An Outbreak Driven by Wild Bird Migration
The 2022–2026 HPAI event has been heavily influenced by wild migratory birds, which introduce and reintroduce the virus to domestic flocks. Federal monitoring shows that fall and spring migration periods consistently correspond with spikes in detections, complicating eradication efforts even with stringent biosecurity protocols in place.
A Continuing Challenge for U.S. Poultry
With infections still emerging across multiple states, the situation remains dynamic. As the total number of affected birds continues to climb, the U.S. poultry industry faces ongoing operational, economic, and biosecurity challenges—making HPAI one of the most disruptive animal‑health crises in recent agricultural history.
Sources: Available upon request