GAINESVILLE, Ga. — January has ended, and a new month has begun, but bird flu continues to persist in poultry flocks around the country. The most recent case was in Amite County, Miss., on Feb. 4 at a commercial broiler facility.
This is Mississippi’s first case of the virus since March 12, 2025, according to USDA data. The Mississippi state veterinarian has already quarantined the premises, and the birds on the property have been depopulated to prevent the spread of disease.
A state that has also been hit hard recently by the virus is Pennsylvania. Since Jan. 28, Lancaster County has had four detections of bird flu at four different locations, including two commercial egg laying facilities. In total, more than 2 million birds have been affected, according to USDA data.
Last month, Colorado went through a similar situation. The Colorado Department of Agriculture confirmed multiple detections of the virus throughout the state in January, including the state’s first commercial case of the year.
“The confirmation of these new HPAI cases is a reminder that the virus is actively circulating in our state,” Dr. Maggie Baldwin, Colorado State Veterinarian, said in a statement. “We urge all flock owners to remain highly vigilant, monitor their birds closely for any signs of illness, and, most critically, to immediately reinforce and practice strict biosecurity measures to protect their flocks.”
On Jan. 28, the CDA received reports of increased mortality at a commercial egg layer facility in Weld County, Colo., CDA stated. The facility housed more than 1 million chickens, all of which were affected by the virus.
Samples tested presumptive positive on Jan. 29 at the Colorado State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and were confirmed on Jan. 30, by the USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory, CDA added.
The other detections were in backyard flocks in Larimer and Logan Counties, where a combined 89 birds were affected. All the infected premises in Colorado have been quarantined with control areas set up in Weld and Logan counties, CDA noted.
On the East Coast, Maryland reported its first case of bird flu this year. The Maryland Department of Agriculture originally announced the presumptive positive on Jan. 29, which was later confirmed by USDA’s NVSL the following day.
The positive case came from a commercial broiler farm in Caroline County, Md., where more than 37,000 birds were affected. Not only is this the first case in the state this year, but it is also Caroline County’s first case since Jan. 21, 2025, according to USDA data.
State officials have quarantined all affected premises, and birds on the property will be depopulated to prevent the spread of disease, MDA added.
A little further up the coast, on Jan. 22, New Jersey reported its first case of the virus in 2026. The New Jersey Department of Agriculture and USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service confirmed the case at a commercial bird farm in Burlington County.
More than 3,000 birds were affected by the virus at this farm, according to USDA data.
“The New Jersey Department of Agriculture remains vigilant in protecting our poultry industry,” New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Ed Wengryn said in a statement. “Surveillance measures are always ongoing as we constantly monitor and test to detect any signs of avian influenza early. The recent detection in a commercial flock is being addressed swiftly and collaboratively by USDA and state officials to ensure containment. The Division of Animal Health is committed to safeguarding animal health and supporting our farmers during this process.”
In addition to this being the first case in the state this year, it is also the first case in Burlington County in the entire outbreak with the most birds affected in the state during this outbreak, according to USDA data.
Although South Carolina has not had a commercial case of bird flu since 2024, the state veterinarian is urging poultry owners to strengthen their biosecurity, especially as North Carolina and Georgia continue to report detections.
“Because this disease is carried by wild birds, poultry owners should take extra care to isolate domestic birds from wild waterfowl and from ponds, lakes and other water sources that wild birds may use,” Michael Neault, South Carolina state veterinarian, and director of Clemson Livestock—Poultry Health, said in a statement.
On Feb. 5, APHIS reported that for the previous 30 days there have been 19 commercial flocks and 40 backyard flocks affected by HPAI. Commercial flocks include 4 in Minnesota and 3 in Georgia. These combined national confirmations totaled 4.88 million affected birds.
For more information on bird flu, visit APHIS at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza.
