All articles tagged with #bird flu
Box Elder County in Utah declared a local state of emergency after a dairy farm tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza, triggering quarantine measures that affect about half of the county’s dairy cows and farms and enabling state and federal support to help farmers amid severe milk production losses.
The Justice Department announced settlements with Cal-Maine Foods, Versova Holdings and Hickman’s Egg Ranch over alleged egg-price manipulation. As part of court-approved deals, the companies will donate a total of 53 million eggs to food banks and community organizations nationwide, with New York receiving nearly 5 million eggs; the companies did not admit wrongdoing.
A Connecticut poultry farmer, Joshua Beebe of Tardif Poultry Farm, endured the depopulation of 5,000 birds after a Salmonella finding during a wave of avian influenza concerns, triggering a lengthy quarantine, canceled orders, and around $50,000 in repopulation costs, with little USDA indemnity and ongoing biosecurity measures as he rebuilds while facing wild-bird transmission risks and climate-influenced migration.
Australia confirms the first detections of the highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 (clade 2.3.4.4b) in two seabirds off Western Australia, marking the virus’s arrival on the continent. The strain, now circulating globally, spreads rapidly and has devastated wildlife and poultry elsewhere, though human risk remains low. A national taskforce has been preparing since 2024, expanding surveillance and biosecurity, with discussions of wildlife vaccination in extreme cases. The public is urged to report sick or dead birds to authorities and avoid contact with wildlife to help containment.
Western Australia has ordered a lockdown of poultry farms after the mainland emergence of H5N1 bird flu, confirmed in wild birds near Esperance (a brown skua and a giant petrel). Ingham’s Group halted access to operations and pushed for indoor housing of free-range stock, while authorities say there is no current evidence of spread to poultry; the outbreak has sparked widespread wildlife reports, government preparedness efforts, and market attention to the affected company.
Australia confirms its first mainland H5N1 bird flu case in a migratory brown skua in Western Australia, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pledging to do whatever it takes to curb spread. A second bird (giant petrel) in the same area is suspected, but Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said the virus has not been detected in poultry. Previously, H5N1 appeared on Heard Island, highlighting wildlife risk even as human infections remain rare and global culling and price pressures continue.
Australia confirms its first H5N1 bird flu case in a brown skua off Esperance, Western Australia, marking the virus’s presence on all continents; authorities are monitoring a second suspected case and wildlife in the region while noting prior detections on Heard and McDonald Islands.
A deadly H5N1 bird flu outbreak has hit Heard Island and McDonald Islands, killing an estimated 13,000 seal pups and hundreds of adult king penguins. Drone surveys showed about 76% pup mortality across 17,000 pups, with one area at 97%. Genetic data suggest the virus arrived from the Crozet Islands around August 2025, marking the virus’s eastward spread to Australian external territory; the impact on breeding adults is still unclear and the study (BioRxiv) has not been peer reviewed. As of February, the Australian mainland and New Zealand had no reported H5N1 cases.
More than 445 birds at Antonelli Poultry in Providence were euthanized after a strain of bird flu was detected during USDA testing.
Rhode Island health officials euthanized 445 asymptomatic birds at Antonelli Poultry in Providence after avian influenza was detected during routine testing. The market remains closed five days after disposal and sanitization, and staff are being monitored for 10 days. Authorities also issued guidance on food-safety and precautions to prevent avian flu exposure.
Moderna is launching a large-scale human trial of an mRNA vaccine for H5N1 bird flu after the Department of Health and Human Services canceled hundreds of millions in funding for vaccine development, signaling a shift in U.S. pandemic preparedness.
An outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1, strain A3) has killed at least 47 elephant seals at Año Nuevo State Park in California, with detections in a sea lion and southern sea otter; park tours are canceled and public beaches are urged to avoid sick or dead wildlife as officials say human risk remains very low.
Bird flu detected in California elephant seals off Pescadero marks the state's first mammal cases, with officials saying human transmission risk remains low; SFist's Sunday Links also cover local stories including SF budget cuts to the Environment Department, the Tenderloin's Airbnb rise, an Ebony Alert for three teens, the Chinese New Year Parade, and a Berkeley High mumps alert.
A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was identified in a Dane County backyard poultry flock. The premises were quarantined and the birds depopulated to prevent spread; USDA animal health officials and the Wisconsin DATCP are coordinating the response. Poultry owners are urged to enhance biosecurity and monitor flocks, reporting signs of illness as prompted. The HPAI H5N1 virus continues to circulate in wild and domestic birds across North America since 2021.
Researchers have confirmed a bird flu outbreak among elephant seals at California's Año Nuevo breeding grounds, prompting authorities to cancel popular seal-watching tours while wildlife officials monitor the situation.