The Latest Bird Flu News
Poultry losses since October are almost 70% above last year’s pace, hitting 16.1 million by Dec. 1, according to the World Organization for Animal Health. Before then, more than 138 million birds were lost in the 12 months through September, more than the prior five years combined.
Niger has reported the highly contagious H5N1 strain of avian influenza, or bird flu, among poultry in a village in the south of the country.
Another case of HPAI reported in Michigan. The worst outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the United States disrupted production and led to increased poultry prices in 2022. The USDA is working a a Bird Flu Risk Assessment tool for farmers.
South Africa confirms detection of second HPAI virus type. The virus-positive results came after 58 of the farm’s 200 poultry died in October.
Japan detected its first ever case and about two dozen farms were infected in South Korea, which faced egg shortages during past outbreaks.
The UK flocked down all poultry in November, and 40% of free-range turkeys raised for Britain’s Christmas dinners were killed, which also lead to its egg shortage. Total UK laying flock has fallen 6% to 36.4 million over the past 12 months, leading to shortage and a 30% increase in price.
The spread of bird flu has accelerated in the past weeks in France, raising concern of further shortages, have already culled of about 20 million chickens, ducks and turkeys and a sharp fall in poultry and foie gras output.
