The presence of extremely pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) was confirmed in business poultry or upland gamebird flocks in 21 U.S. states in 2023.
That compares to 27 states the place HPAI was confirmed in business operations in 2022.
For the second yr in a row, Minnesota and South Dakota had been the 2 states with probably the most flocks contaminated with HPAI. Nonetheless, the 2 states flipped positions by way of how they ranked among the many states with the most flocks affected.
In line with information from america Division of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Well being Inspection Service (APHIS), here’s a breakdown of how every state in comparison with the others:
1. South Dakota
South Dakota had extra HPAI infections in business operations than another state in 2023. For the yr, 36 business flocks had been affected. The state’s first case of 2023 was confirmed on March 22 and the remaining case was confirmed on December 30. The affected flocks concerned meat turkeys, turkey breeder hens, turkey breeder alternative hens and upland gamebirds. Regardless of having HPAI’s presence confirmed in additional business flocks than another state in 2023, South Dakota nonetheless had fewer flock infections that yr than it did in 2022, when 61 flocks had been affected.
2. Minnesota
Minnesota noticed a considerable year-over-year decline in business flock infections. After having 81 flocks affected in 2022 – extra flocks than another state – Minnesota ranks second for 2023 with 34 flocks struck by the virus. The state was capable of keep away from any HPAI infections in business poultry till the primary case was confirmed on October 11, and people circumstances continued by December 27. Affected flocks concerned business meat turkeys, turkey breeder hens, breeder toms, egg layers and breeder hens of an unspecified species.
3. California
California was the one different state to see a double-digit variety of flock infections. It ranked third among the many states with 22 flocks hit by HPAI. That quantity really elevated, because the state had 15 confirmed flock infections in 2022, when California ranked sixth by way of flocks affected. California had extra variety regarding the kind of flocks affected in 2023, as these concerned desk egg layers, desk egg layer pullets, meat turkeys, meat geese, duck breeders and broilers. The state’s first HPAI case in a business operation was confirmed on February 6 and the ultimate one was confirmed on December 23. Nonetheless, new circumstances of HPAI have already been confirmed in California in 2024.
4. Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania had the fourth most flock infections in 2023, with seven. This was a drop for Pennsylvania, which with 25 contaminated flocks in 2022 had extra business operations affected than all states besides Minnesota and South Dakota. All however one of many state’s HPAI circumstances occurred in February and March, till the presence of the virus was once more confirmed in Pennsylvania business upland gamebird operation on December 27. Different affected flocks concerned meat turkeys, meat geese, duck breeders and broilers.
5. Ohio and Iowa
After solely having one business poultry flock affected by HPAI in 2022, six flocks had been affected in Ohio in 2023. These concerned meat turkeys, desk egg layers and desk egg layer pullets. All the state’s circumstances for the yr had been confirmed in November and December.
Like Ohio, Iowa additionally had six business flocks affected by HPAI in 2023. It is a significant drop from the 24 flock infections in Iowa in 2022. 4 of Iowa’s affected flocks had been business meat turkeys and the opposite two concerned business desk egg layers. The primary case for the yr was confirmed on January 25 and the ultimate was confirmed on November 28.
7. Kansas and Wisconsin
After having just one flock affected by HPAI in 2022, Kansas had 5 in 2023. The primary three occurred throughout the first two months of the yr and concerned business upland gamebirds. Then, in December, two business layer flocks had been affected. Additionally, the state has already had one business flock affected in 2024.
Wisconsin, like Kansas, additionally had 5 flocks affected by HPAI in 2024. All 5 of these concerned business meat turkeys, and all 5 occurred throughout the remaining two months of the yr. Additionally like Kansas, Wisconsin has already had its first business flock an infection of 2024.
9. Arkansas
Arkansas was the state with the ninth most flock infections in 2023 after ending 2022 with just one. There have been 4 circumstances in 2023, and so they all occurred between October 31 and December 7. These circumstances concerned broilers, broiler breeder pullets and business meat turkeys.
10. North Dakota
With three flocks affected by HPAI in 2023, North Dakota ranked 10th amongst states for probably the most flocks misplaced. All three had been business meat turkey flocks. The primary case was confirmed in April whereas the opposite two had been confirmed in November. In 2022, North Dakota had 5 business flocks affected.
States that misplaced two flocks
The next states misplaced two business flocks to HPAI in 2023: Alabama, Virginia, Oregon, Michigan, Utah and Missouri. Essentially the most vital year-over-year change concerned Utah, which misplaced 19 business flocks in 2022. Missouri additionally noticed a drop in circumstances, with eight flocks affected in 2022. Nonetheless, Alabama, Virginia and Oregon had no flocks affected in 2022, and Michigan had just one.
States that misplaced one flock
The next states misplaced one business flock to HPAI in 2023: Maryland, Tennessee, Illinois, Georgia and Mississippi. In 2022, Maryland had 5 flocks affected, whereas Tennessee and Mississippi misplaced three flocks and one flock, respectively. No business flocks had been struck by HPAI in Illinois or Georgia in 2022.
The same article about how states ranked by way of HPAI chicken losses seems on WATTPoultry.com.
To study extra about HPAI circumstances in business poultry flocks in america, Mexico and Canada, see an interactive map on WATTPoultry.com.
View our persevering with protection of the international avian influenza scenario.
