Avian Flu Outbreak Expands Across Indiana Poultry Facilities

By Andi Anderson

Avian flu outbreaks continued to rise this week as nine additional poultry facilities in Indiana reported positive cases of the H5N1 strain. The United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Inspection Service (APHIS) has been closely tracking these developments as the virus spreads through commercial and backyard flocks.

The newest cases were confirmed in Elkhart and LaGrange counties, where more than 20,000 commercial duck meat birds were affected.

Earlier in the week, these same counties, along with Adams County, reported several more outbreaks involving between 3,000 and 8,600 birds. The rapid increase in cases highlights the ongoing challenges faced by poultry producers working to protect their flocks.

While Indiana experienced the highest number of new infections, cases also appeared in other parts of the country. In Utah’s Box Elder County, 10 birds were infected, while West Virginia’s Kanawha County reported an outbreak affecting 220 birds.

These smaller outbreaks show that H5N1 continues to appear in scattered locations across the nation.

Over the past 30 days, APHIS has confirmed H5N1 in 85 flocks nationwide. This includes 45 commercial farms and 40 backyard flocks, bringing the total number of affected birds to over 10.10 million.

Indiana remains one of the hardest‑hit states, with 26 commercial flocks and 11 backyard flocks testing positive during this period.

Reports of infections in wild birds have slowed, with just 20 detections recorded this week. Among these, a Great Horned owl in Minnesota and several hawks in New York tested positive. Wildlife monitoring continues to play an important role in understanding how the virus spreads beyond domestic poultry.

In addition to bird infections, APHIS recorded two new detections in mammals. A red fox in Alaska’s Nome County and another in Westchester County, New York, were confirmed to have contracted the virus. These cases show that H5N1 can occasionally spill over into wildlife outside of bird populations.

Health officials continue to urge poultry producers to strengthen biosecurity practices to reduce the spread of the virus. Regular monitoring, quick reporting, and safe handling practices remain essential to protecting flocks during this period of widespread H5N1 activity.

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