Last month, there were 15 HPAI detections in commercial layers, and in the past 30 days, there have been 117 flock detections in total. 63 of those detections are commercial and 54 are backyard, affecting 12.96 million birds. Due to warmer temperatures last fall, migration was delayed, and this trend is expected to continue until the colder weather pushes the birds further south to wintering areas.

Since the outbreak began in February of 2022, there have been 1,387 total confirmed flocks affecting 130.67 million birds in 50 states. Of those, 758 are backyard confirmations and 629 are from commercial farms. The total layer detections in this outbreak have reached 89 layer flocks and pullet premises, involving 101.91 million layers and pullets.

Detections of HPAI in dairy herds also continue. In a release issued on January 8, 2025, USDA announced that 15 additional states have enrolled in the National Milk Testing Strategy, bringing the total number of states to 28. Also, APHIS is working to share updates on its expedited work to support vaccine development for use in poultry and bovine species, as part of a multi-faceted effort to fight the spread of H5N1.

APHIS announced updates to the indemnity program for HPAI on poultry farms

Additionally, APHIS announced an interim final rule on December 30, 2024, that updates the conditions for poultry facilities to receive indemnity and compensation after testing positive for HPAI. Based on evidence that strong biosecurity measures remain the most effective strategy to combat HPAI, APHIS now requires farmers to undergo a biosecurity audit before restocking their poultry after a positive HPAI detection and receiving future indemnity payments.

As the current HPAI outbreak enters its fourth year, the impact on the poultry industry remains significant, with millions of birds affected across the U.S. As the virus persists, ongoing collaboration between government agencies, farmers, and industry groups will be essential to mitigate the effects of this outbreak and protect both poultry and broader agricultural sectors.

UEP staff and consultants have been tracking this issue since last fall and will continue to engage with the agency and provide updates as they become available.

This interim rule is effective upon publication. If a farm has been infected, the producer must have and pass this audit prior to repopulation. Additionally, if an unaffected producer is putting in replacement birds or moving day-old chicks or pullets onto a premises that are within a control zone. In that case, the producer must also pass this audit prior to movement or they will not be eligible for indemnity for that flock or the entire farm.

Click here to view the biosecurity audit tool. 

Also see “US to build new stockpile of bird flu vaccine for poultry,” from Reuters, to read more on the plan rebuild a stockpile of bird flu vaccines for poultry that match the strain of the virus circulating in commercial flocks and wild birds.