Continued HPAI Outbreaks

During the past ten days HPAI outbreaks have occurred among four turkey farms in California and two in Minnesota in addition to two broiler breeder farms in the former state. This does not mean that HPAI has returned—it never left us! Contrasting 2022 with 2015 it is highly likely that HPAI is now endemic in the domestic wild bird population given the incidence rate of diagnosed cases in in numerous states among backyard flocks that can be regarded as sentinels. This situation demands a reappraisal of prevention and control of avian influenza by APHIS and an intensification of effective (rather than “make belief”) biosecurity by producers.