Bird flu outbreaks continue to surge across the United States, with recent detections in commercial poultry farms reported in Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service states that 43 flocks in 16 states have been impacted since September 1, with over 3.75 million birds lost nationwide in just the past month. In Iowa, authorities confirmed the eighth outbreak of bird flu this year in domestic birds, while Minnesota has seen eight outbreaks in the past few weeks alone. Wisconsin recorded another case in a Jefferson County facility containing more than half a million poultry, prompting state officials to enforce strict quarantines and depopulation measures to contain the spread.
Experts warn that chickens are at higher risk in the coming months due to seasonal migratory patterns of wild birds, which are known to spread the virus. According to the Minnesota Turkey Growers Association, commercial growers are struggling with the repeated losses of entire flocks, and some are implementing new biosecurity measures in response to consecutive outbreaks.
The ongoing outbreaks are fueling concern among public health officials. The US Department of Agriculture and epidemiologists highlight that although human infection remains rare, there have been several cases among poultry workers in recent years. Brown University’s infectious disease experts caution that if bird flu mutates to allow easier human transmission, it could spark a new pandemic. Researchers at News Medical report a troubling new finding: the H5N1 virus can survive up to 120 days in raw milk cheese, raising fresh questions about food safety and dairy production standards.
Beyond the US, bird flu continues to disrupt the international poultry industry. Denmark has ordered the culling of 150,000 chickens after its first confirmed outbreak this year, and the Netherlands is culling 71,000 chickens after detecting bird flu in its northern regions. In China, officials recently confirmed four additional cases of H9N2 avian flu in children, and South America is witnessing mass die-offs among seabirds and mammals.
In the US, the natural world is also reeling from the virus, with major die-offs documented among wild and farmed bird populations. The Independent reports that since 2022, more than 175 million poultry have either been culled or have died due to the disease. Egg prices have felt the impact, fluctuating due to supply disruptions, and are expected to rise significantly over the winter, with experts forecasting up to a 24 percent increase in 2026.
For now, authorities are urging continued vigilance, enhanced biosecurity on farms, and close public health monitoring. Thanks for tuning in to this week’s update. Make sure to come back next week for more breaking headlines and analysis. This has been a Quiet Please production—check out Quiet Please Dot A I for more.
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