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 have been the 2 states with essentially the most flocks contaminated with HPAI. Nevertheless, the 2 states flipped positions when it comes to how they ranked among the many states with the most flocks affected.

Based on knowledge 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 have 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 substitute 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 have 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 in a position to keep away from any HPAI infections in business poultry till the primary case was confirmed on October 11, and people instances continued via 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 when it comes to flocks affected. California had extra range 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. Nevertheless, new instances 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 instances 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 have been affected in Ohio in 2023. These concerned meat turkeys, desk egg layers and desk egg layer pullets. The entire state’s instances for the yr have 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 have 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 in the course of the first two months of the yr and concerned business upland gamebirds. Then, in December, two business layer flocks have 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 in the course of 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 instances in 2023, they usually all occurred between October 31 and December 7. These instances concerned broilers, broiler breeder pullets and business meat turkeys.

10. North Dakota

With three flocks affected by HPAI in 2023, North Dakota ranked 10^th amongst states for essentially the most flocks misplaced. All three have been business meat turkey flocks. The primary case was confirmed in April whereas the opposite two have 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. Probably the most vital year-over-year change concerned Utah, which misplaced 19 business flocks in 2022. Missouri additionally noticed a drop in instances, with eight flocks affected in 2022. Nevertheless, 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 have been struck by HPAI in Illinois or Georgia in 2022.

An analogous article about how states ranked when it comes to HPAI chicken losses seems on WATTPoultry.com.

To be taught extra about HPAI instances 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 state of affairs.