HPAI dwindles among commercial and backyard flocks

Outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza among commercial and backyard flocks are waning in the U.S., with cases confirmed in three states so far in July.

The flocks infected in recent days are far smaller than some of those impacted in prior months, with a total of 306 birds affected this month in five outbreaks in Oregon, Washington and Utah, according to USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

All told, HPAI has been confirmed in 384 commercial and backyard flocks in 36 states, affecting more than 40 million birds, the agency reported in its latest update on Thursday. 

Still, the recovery from the disease continues, with Indiana recently clearing nine turkey and duck farms for restocking, as no outbreaks of HPAI have been reported in commercial operations in the state since April. 

That said, Indiana is not yet free of the virus, with a chicken and a goose kept as a hobby flock recently testing positive, according to the Indiana Board of Animal Health.

Overseas, Japan says poultry exports from all parts of the country can resume, now that HPAI is under control. The lifting of restrictions involves trade of chicken and eggs between Hong Kong and Singapore, Japan’s agriculture ministry announced in late June. 
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Since November, a total of 25 HPAI outbreaks in poultry have been confirmed in Japan.