GAINESVILLE, Ga. — This year marks the fourth consecutive of the current outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza, and the U.S. poultry industry is feeling the damage in every part of the country. Currently, Pennsylvania is suffering the most, specifically in Lancaster County. So much so that Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro sent additional resources and manpower to tackle their HPAI problem.
However, they aren’t the only state experiencing losses caused by this virus. Indiana is back in the headlines for HPAI detections after a calmer start to the year compared to how the state ended 2025.
Last year, starting at the end of October, Indiana had a detection almost every day all the way through Dec. 30, according to data from the Indiana Board of Animal Health. During that time period, more than 1 million birds were affected by the virus in the state, with LaGrange County acting as the HPAI hotspot, according to data from the Indiana BOAH.
Now, in 2026, Indiana has only had six detections so far, with only a few in the month of February. The most recent detections were in the counties of Elkhart and Boone on Feb 17. In Elkhart County, more than 2,000 birds were affected at a commercial meat duck facility, and in Boone County, more than 18,000 birds were affected at a commercial breeder turkey facility, according to Indiana BOAH data.
Both locations have been quarantined, and control and surveillance zones have been established.
On the East Coast, Maryland reported the state’s second case of HPAI this year on Valentine’s Day. A presumptive positive later confirmed by USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory revealed that more than 77,000 birds were affected at a commercial broiler farm in Wicomico County. This is the first detection, commercial or backyard, of HPAI in the county in the entire current outbreak, according to USDA data.
State officials have quarantined all affected premises, and birds on the property have been depopulated to prevent the spread of disease, the Maryland Department of Agriculture said in a statement.
Further down the coast, South Carolina reported the state’s first case of HPAI this year on Feb. 23. In Lee County, 36,400 birds were affected at a commercial turkey meat facility, according to USDA data.
Not only is this South Carolina’s first case in 2026, but it is also the first commercial case since late 2024. In the entire outbreak, South Carolina has only had seven confirmed cases, including this most recent one, according to USDA data. Additionally, this case resulted in the largest number of birds affected in the state during this current outbreak.
On the West Coast, earlier this month, California reported another HPAI detection for the year. Following an investigation by the California Department of Food and Agriculture and rapid disease detection by California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, the USDA’s NVSL confirmed the virus in a commercial flock in Sonoma County, the CDFA said in a statement. More than 86,000 birds were affected.
On Feb. 24, APHIS reported that for the previous 30 days there have been 28 commercial flocks and 25 backyard flocks affected by HPAI. Commercial flocks include 13 in Pennsylvania and 5 in Indiana. These combined national confirmations totaled 9.42 million affected birds.
For more information on bird flu, visit APHIS at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza.
