Bird Flu Outbreaks Impact Millions of Birds Nationwide

Recent outbreaks of avian influenza (bird flu) in the United States are causing significant losses in poultry production, with over 12.1 million birds affected in Iowa alone since November 2023. Notably, Georgia has halted poultry sales after detecting bird flu in commercial flocks, highlighting the disease's impact on the state's key industry. The CDC has reported at least 1,400 outbreaks across more than 600 counties, affecting nearly 135 million birds nationwide. In New York, Crescent Duck Farm is euthanizing over 100,000 ducks due to an outbreak, further emphasizing the crisis in the poultry sector. Concerns are also rising about the potential for the H5N1 strain to evolve and pose a greater risk to public health, as the CDC has recorded 67 human cases since 2024. While the current risk to the general public is low, experts caution that vigilance is necessary to prevent a larger outbreak.