Recently, there have been two HPAI detections in layer operations in California and Arizona, which bring the total layer detections in this outbreak since February 2022 to 68 layer and pullets flocks totaling over 82.7 million birds. The outbreak has affected 523 commercial flocks and 681 backyard flocks, totaling 107.6 million birds. Of the 13 infected layer and pullet flocks since April 2, 2024, 22.79 million birds were lost. Nine of these detections are confirmed to be the dairy strain, while two are linked to wild waterfowl. An additional two are currently pending sequencing.

Dairy detections have continued to rise. APHIS has reported 492 positive herds in 15 states since first detected on March 25, 2024. As additional testing continues and APHIS rolls out its mandatory nationwide testing strategy, these numbers are expected to continue to rise.

On October 30, APHIS reported the first swine case on a small, mixed species farm in Oregon. The poultry on site experienced significant mortality, leading to testing and emergency depopulation. The pet swine was observed feeding on dead bird carcasses, tested and found to be positive, and depopulated. This backyard detection is a very isolated situation. Autumnal migration continues to ramp up worldwide, with increased detections in poultry flocks in British Columbia, Canada, Europe, and Asia.

The response activities are rapidly changing, with at least 31 human-positive cases being reported in both dairy and poultry workers. Personal protective equipment (PPE) is being closely monitored by public health, along with employee screening and testing and contact tracing being a primary focus. These changes will stay in place for the foreseeable future, and producers should prepare to have additional PPE available for an outbreak. Worker protection plans should also be completed to provide further protection should a farm experience a positive case.

UEP will continue to monitor this quickly progressing issue and provide updates as needed. Producers should continue conversations with state animal health offices should anyone experience a non-negative and continue to execute strict biosecurity protocols. Now is the time to review and update any plans and have additional discussions and planning with employees in preparation for experiencing a detection. HPAI remains a code-red situation as we don’t know how the migration will impact poultry farms in the other flyways.