US finds fewer cases of avian flu in wild birds, a good sign for poultry

The U.S. is detecting fewer cases of avian flu in wild birds that transmit the virus to poultry flocks, the agriculture department said, a potentially positive development for farmers and consumers after a two-year outbreak. A top official warned that risks remain high, though, and urged farmers to maintain stringent safety and cleaning protocols to protect flocks. Record infections on poultry farms drove egg and turkey prices to all-time highs in 2022, raising costs for inflation-hit shoppers. “We certainly don’t want producers to drop their guard. But the viral load in the environment is less,” Rosemary Sifford, chief veterinary officer for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, said in an interview. Wild birds can carry the disease, known as bird flu, when migrating without showing signs of illness. Poultry can become infected through contaminated feces or direct contact. The U.S. has reported about 2,600 cases in wild birds in 2023, compared to nearly 6,000 cases in 2022, according to a USDA database. Read more