Second largest US egg producer hit by avian flu

The second largest egg producer in the US has confirmed that tests at its Seymour, Indiana poultry plant have indicated a positive result for avian influenza. The company disclosed this information on a popular online platform, stating that it had first observed a mortality rate among layers on 25 January and promptly submitted samples for testing. Subsequently, on 26 January, the Indiana Board of Animal Health announced the virus detection at a Jackson County layer farm, which houses 2.8 million birds. The affected company has asserted that it has reinforced its rigorous biosecurity protocols, is collaborating with state officials, and is conducting monitoring activities at other facilities. Concurrently, the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed an additional detection at a poultry farm in Ulster County, New York. Since the year’s onset, outbreaks at layer farms have resulted in the loss of at least 13 million birds. In an update on wild birds, the agency reported approximately 90 additional confirmations across a broad spectrum of states, predominantly involving samples collected between the end of 2024 and early 2025. Most of these were snow geese that were found deceased, in addition to raptors. However, the group also included ducks and other waterfowl harvested by hunters or collected for live sampling.