Nearly 1 Million Chickens Slaughtered in Massive Bird Flu Outbreak

The largest active bird flu outbreak in the United States has resulted in the culling of nearly one million chickens. The U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed the detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) at a commercial table egg layer facility in Clinton County, Illinois. This outbreak affected an estimated 934,600 animals at Rose Acre Farms, a major egg producer.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), specifically the H5N1 strain, currently poses a significant threat to the global poultry industry, animal health, trade, and economy. This strain is circulating worldwide in wild birds and has led to outbreaks in domestic birds and dairy cattle across the U.S.

Because there is no available treatment for HPAI, infected and exposed birds must be humanely killed to contain the virus and prevent its wider dissemination. While the viruses rarely infect humans, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that most U.S. cases have been mild and linked to direct exposure to sick animals.