Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI)
On March 25, 2024, a mystery illness that had been impacting dairy herds in the Texas Panhandle, New Mexico and Kansas was officially diagnosed as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). Also known as bird flu, the same strain has been affecting the U.S. poultry flock for the past two years. The Dairy Herd team is tracking the HPAI cases to keep you aware of any changes while providing information you can use to elevate your knowledge and what the evolving dynamics could mean to your operation.
The plan, announced by USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins, dedicates up to $500 million to help poultry producers implement biosecurity measures and up to $400 million in financial relief for farmers whose flocks are affected by avian flu.
USDA is working to get more eggs into the supply chain in the short-term, but U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins says a team is focused on coming up with a long-term strategy to combat avian flu.
Spearheaded by National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett and USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins, the plan prioritizes enhanced biosecurity measures and medication to control the spread of the virus and moves away from mass culling of infected flocks.
Sec. Mike Naig says the U.S. government is using what he describes as a three-legged stool approach to address the virus in the dairy and poultry industries.
According to the January 2025 Food Price Outlook, egg prices saw the biggest spike, up 37% year-over-year. When you look ahead, USDA expects outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) to continue to cause egg prices to climb.
California State Veterinarian Dr. Annette Jones has issued a statewide ban on dairy cattle and poultry exhibitions to combat the spread of H5N1 Avian Influenza. The ban will remain in place until the outbreak is under control—here’s what you need to know.
Bird flu has infected three more people from Washington state after they were exposed to poultry that tested positive for the virus, according to health authorities in Washington and in Oregon, where the human cases were identified.
In a special report of The PORK Podcast, Andrew Bowman, DVM, tackles some of host Jennifer Shike’s questions about USDA’s announcement that H5N1 was discovered in a pig for the first time ever.
USDA announced on Oct. 30 the first reported case of H5N1 in a pig in an Oregon backyard farm.