The latest data from the CDC and USDA shows the continued devastating effects of bird flu outbreaks across the United States — with Iowa, the nation’s leading egg producer, suffering substantial losses.
Since November 2023, more than 12.1 million poultry birds have been affected in Sioux County, Iowa alone.
On January 17, health officials in Georgia, the nation’s leading state for chicken production, announced it was suspending poultry sales after detecting bird flu, for the first time, in flocks designated for commercial sale. This recent development is not yet reflected in the CDC and USDA databases used for this analysis.
“This is a serious threat to Georgia’s number one industry and the livelihoods of thousands of Georgians who make their living in our state’s poultry industry. We are working around the clock to mitigate any further spread of the disease and ensure that normal poultry activities in Georgia can resume as quickly as possible,” Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper said in a news release.
Since federal and state government officials began tracking in February 2022, at least 1,400 outbreaks have been reported in more than 600 counties nationwide, affecting nearly 135 million birds.
Other counties experiencing severe losses include Weld County, Colorado, with 9.95 million since April 2022, and Merced County, California, recording 8.35 million.
Midwest states with the highest number of birds affected include Iowa, Ohio, Minnesota, Michigan, and Nebraska.
Meanwhile, 67 human cases have been reported in the U.S. since the flu was first detected in humans in 2024, according to the CDC.
“While the current public health risk is low, CDC is watching the situation carefully and working with states to monitor people with animal exposures,” the agency stated on its website, which is regularly updated with the latest information.
This article first appeared on Investigate Midwest and is republished by Iowa Capital Dispatch.
EDITOR’S TAKE:
If you’re wondering why egg and poultry meat prices have risen so dramatically in the past couple of years, here is the main culprit – BIRD FLU. It has had a devastating impact on the entire poultry industry. Despite the best efforts of government officials to control the spread, containment has been elusive. As a result, it has spread to multiple production areas, to other animal species and even humans. The use of more vaccine is being called for by health officials to vaccinate animals who are vulnerable. We keep hoping that the end is near, but hope is distant each time stories like this appear. That said, we will continue to support our livestock and dairy producers across the country. You can support them as well with programs like AgPack® or CADFI. AgPack® offers exclusive rebates and discounts on products used by most livestock producers. CADFI can help you shape a loan payment schedule to match the farmer’s/rancher’s income stream. Both options can help them work through the tough times they currently face.
