Public and land-grant universities across the nation are at the forefront of research, education, and Extension efforts to develop and disseminate research findings that can prevent or minimize avian influenza outbreaks.
Avian influenza (also known as avian flu or bird flu) is a viral infection that primarily affects birds. Many strains of avian influenza (AI) viruses exist worldwide and can cause varying degrees of illness in poultry. Most AI viruses are classified as low pathogenic avian influenza and cause mild disease in poultry. These viruses naturally spread among wild aquatic birds worldwide and can infect domestic poultry and other bird and animal species.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) {also known as also known as H5N1} viruses are extremely infectious, fatal forms of the disease that typically kill 95 to 100 percent of an infected flock. HPAI is widespread in wild birds worldwide, can spread rapidly, and is causing outbreaks in poultry and U.S. dairy cows. H5N1 has the potential to devastate the poultry industry by wiping out entire flocks of birds.
A serious concern is avian flu’s potential to mutate into a form that can spread easily among humans, leading to a global pandemic. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), bird flu viruses do not normally infect humans. However, sporadic human infections with bird flu viruses have occurred and at least 67 people, mostly dairy workers, have been infected as of February 2025.
In January 2025, The Louisiana Department of Health reported the patient who had been hospitalized with the first human case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the U.S. has died, marking the first U.S. death from the virus.
NEW FUNDING OPPORTUNITY
March 20, 2025: Following U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins’ recent announcement of emergency funding to combat avian flu and reduce egg prices, USDA in consultation with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing initial plans for a funding opportunity to explore prevention, therapeutics, research, and potential vaccine candidates. USDA will invest up to $100 million in these projects, which will identify and foster innovative solutions to fight highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and directly support America’s farmers and ranchers.
Recent Developments
February 13, 2025: Egg prices hit a record high
According to The Associated Press, egg prices hit a record high as the U.S. contends with an ongoing bird flu outbreak. The latest monthly consumer price index showed that the average price of a dozen Grade A eggs in U.S. cities reached $4.95 in January, eclipsing the previous record of $4.82 set two years earlier and more than double the low of $2.04 in August 2023. A carton of eggs can cost $10 or more in some places. The spike in egg prices accounted for roughly two-thirds of the total increase in food costs last month, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Source: The Associated Press - US eggs prices hit a record high of $4.95 and are likely to keep climbing
February 13, 2025: Spillover into people at highest risk of exposure
According to the Washington Post, a scientific report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published Thursday. Feb. 13. 2025 shows some veterinarians who provide care for cattle were unknowingly infected with the H5N1 avian influenza virus last year. The report is the latest evidence that the outbreak in dairy herds is spreading undetected in cows, and the spillover into people at highest risk of exposure is going unnoticed.
Source: The Washington Post - Delayed CDC report shows increased evidence of bird flu spread to people
February 10, 2025: The outbreak of avian flu has infected at least 67 people
According to The Economist, the outbreak of avian flu, which began in turkeys in February 2022, has already led to the death of 150 million birds, including 41million in December and January alone. The disease is now rife in dairy cows and has infected at least 67 people, mostly dairy workers. In January, the first person died. With no reported human-to-human spread, experts say the disease does not currently pose much threat to people.
Source: The Economist - Avian flu in America is a political problem and a health threat
February 4, 2025: Avian Influenza - A major threat to the poultry industry, animal health, trade, and the economy worldwide.
According to USDA, avian influenza, or "bird flu," is a major threat to the poultry industry, animal health, trade, and the economy worldwide. Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) strains are deadly to domestic poultry and can wipe out entire flocks within a matter of days. Low pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI) strains typically cause few or no signs of illness. They occur naturally in wild birds around the world. However, some LPAI strains can become highly pathogenic in poultry.
Source: USDA: Avian Influenza | Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
IMPACTS BY STATE
Graphic courtesy of University of Illinois Extension.
Photo courtesy of University of Maryland/Edwin Remsberg.
University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture / Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station
As highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses adapted to infect a broad range of species, the Center of Excellence for Poultry Science expanded the outlook for its second annual international conference. The International Avian Influenza and One Health Emerging Issues Summit was held in person and online, Sept. 30-Oct. 3, 2024, at the Don Tyson Center for Agricultural Sciences in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
In the first avian flu summit in 2023, 23 speakers made presentations over two days, and 1,842 people registered from 81 countries. This year, the summit remains free and will have 46 speakers over four days. Guillermo Tellez-Isaias, poultry science research professor for the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, the research arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, is one of 14 organizers for the summit, hosted by the Division of Agriculture and the University of Arkansas Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences.
University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources and University of California, Davis
Photo courtesy of University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources
The recent outbreak of avian influenza originated in the wild bird population and jumped to farms, resulting in the loss of more than 100 million poultry and billions of dollars in the United States. The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research recently awarded the University of California-Davis a grant to research Protecting Poultry & Dairy Farms from Bird Flu Outbreaks Linked to Wild Waterfowl.
Every winter, millions of migratory birds fly south to warmer locales, passing over California Central Valley dairies and poultry farms. Many of these wild waterfowl are carrying the virus that causes avian influenza, says Maurice Pitesky, University of California Cooperative Extension poultry specialist in the School of Veterinary Medicine at UC Davis.
Bird flu has killed millions of birds and disrupted milk and poultry production. In California, highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial and backyard flocks of poultry and dairy cows and, more recently, poultry and dairy workers have become infected.
Based on their research, Pitesky and his colleagues have developed the Waterfowl Alert Network to provide data about locations of waterfowl roosting and feeding. The network uses data from satellites, weather radar and land-based environmental sensors. Farmers and agricultural agency personnel can use it to assess the risk wild birds pose to farms.
Understanding where waterfowl are relative to the countries 44,000+ commercial poultry facilities offers a new predictive tool designed to help farmers and other stakeholders identify which farms are at the greatest risk of H5N1 exposure. This information can be used to help shift habitat away from farms. Full story is here.
University of Connecticut / College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources
Does Bird Flu Affect My Food? How to Prepare Foods Safely
Bird flu (avian influenza) has become an increased concern in the health community throughout the United States. Thoughts of the potential risk of contracting the disease from store bought foods prepared and consumed at home are concerning to many consumers. This fact sheet, Does Bird Flu Affect My Food? | Extension News and Publications, provides information on how to prevent risk from bird flu exposure and how to prepare food properly to ensure food safety.
The college is working to provide expertise to media, producers, and the public in regards to avian influenza. They have called together a college-wide group with faculty/staff from several units to make sure as many areas of expertise as possible are represented. Their faculty/staff have worked with media on several stories and are working on content that will also appear in UConn Today with expert Q&As and research as it is published. The CT Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory located at UConn is also prepared to support testing.
Relevant links:
University of Delaware / College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
The Delmarva Peninsula is a poultry powerhouse. The University of Delaware College of Agriculture and Natural Resources has research, teaching and extension efforts related to highly pathogenic avian influenza.
Georgie Cartanza, UD Cooperative Extension poultry extension agent, brings industry experience to UD. A chicken grower for 18 years and experience working for a poultry integrator, Cartanza helps other growers troubleshoot on-farm problems. She educates them on keeping their flocks safe from diseases.
Senior scientist Brian Ladman leads the University of Delaware Poultry Health System, which has two state-of-the-art laboratories that test chickens for avian influenza viruses. Lasher Laboratory is located in the top U.S. county for broiler production and helps ensure each flock is free of viruses before movement to processing. Allen Laboratory assists biological companies with research on developing vaccines for the virus.
Ladman collaborates with wildlife ecology professor Jeffrey Buler on research on the role of wild birds in spreading HPAI. Delmarva is an important overwintering area for geese and ducks; Buler and his lab use weather radar and GPS tracking to see where waterfowl are and how close they are to poultry farms. The research can help warn chicken growers the virus might be near. Buler’s lab is well-known for developing the algorithms for mapping bird distributions at the ground with weather radar.
University of Georgia
University of Georgia Cooperative Extension and the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences are on the front line of efforts to prevent and detect highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in domestic poultry flocks in Georgia. As Georgia poultry producers carefully monitor the progress of HPAI in the U.S., including early cases in Georgia, UGA Extension and CAES have been instrumental in disseminating information on protecting their flocks. The Department of Poultry Science created an informational webpage regarding avian Influenza to provide UGA, state and federal information resources for interested clientele, and county Extension agents have been trained to help clients with concerns regarding small flock poultry production and biosecurity efforts. Learn more at Help prevent avian influenza in Georgia.
University of Illinois
Photo courtesy of Fred Zwicky / University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
University of Illinois Extension’s communications team collaborated with topic experts to provide avian influenza resources including this article What to know about avian flu in wild birds, poultry, and pets in Illinois and this social media post.
Dr. James Lowe, University of Illinois Extension specialist and professor of veterinary clinical medicine, was featured in an expert views article, What makes the bird flu virus so unusual?, answering questions about how the H5N1 virus functions in different animals and recent developments. Lowe studies the factors driving transmission to, and among farm animals.
Additional resources:
Iowa State University
Numerous faculty and staff are involved in the response to the avian influenza outbreak. With the largest production animal caseload in the U.S., the Iowa State University ISU) Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (VDL) is an essential resource in detecting and mitigating any animal disease outbreak among livestock or poultry. An ISU VDL diagnostician, Dr. Drew Magstadt, detected that an illness spreading among dairy herds was highly pathogenic avian influenza. Dr. Magstadt has been interviewed by numerous national and international media organizations about his discovery.
Preprint of journal article describing discovery of HPAI in dairy (peer review pending)
Other ISU experts include: Dr. Yuko Sato, associate professor of veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine and Dr. Phil Jardon clinical associate professor of veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine and the university’s Extension veterinarian for dairy.
ISU Extension and Outreach HPAI in dairy resources
Q&A from The Conversation (2022): Bird flu is killing millions of chickens and turkeys across the US
Kansas State University
K-State is doing important work in research and surveillance related to high path avian influenza, as well as providing information via its Extension system, in particular as it relates to 4-H activity across the state. Dr. Juergen Richt in the College of Veterinary Medicine leads the research (summary below). In addition, the K-State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory is assisting with statewide surveillance for HPAI.
H5N1 Research Summary
“Milking equipment and anthropogenic activities were suspected to be involved in the transmission of H5N1, but clear evidence of the mode of transmission had been lacking,” says Dr. Jürgen Richt, who is a Regents distinguished professor, University Distinguished Professor in Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology, Kansas Bioscience Authority eminent scholar in the College of Veterinary Medicine and member of the National Academy of Medicine. He published his findings io the paper "H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b dynamics in experimentally infected calves and cows," which was published Sept. 25 in the journal Nature.
In a collaborative effort, research teams led by Drs. Richt and Martin Beer from the Friedrich Loeffler Institute in Germany experimentally infected both calves and lactating cows with H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b virus, the strain of the virus circulating in cattle in the U.S., to gain insight into likely modes of transmission.
Dr. Richt’s team has been prolific and moved quickly to publish findings in connection with HPAI. In September 2024, the team published “Bovine Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus Stability and Inactivation in the Milk Byproduct Lactose,” which looked at two methods to inactivate the virus. A key finding involved the persistence of the HPAI virus in lactose byproducts that are used in animal feed products.
In October 2024, the team published “Detection and characterization of H5N1 HPAIV in environmental samples from a dairy farm,” which emphasizes the critical need for better epidemiological monitoring of zoonotic diseases.
Dr. Richt's work has been featured in a number of publications: News release: K-State research finds bovine H5N1 influenza may spread via milking - Kansas State University
His work was also featured recently on NPR; Here's why bird flu fears are intensifying
Here is a recent piece about the K-State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory: The KSVDL is the state’s front-line defense against devastating animal diseases.
University of Maryland / College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Photo courtesy of University of Maryland/Edwin Remsberg
The University of Maryland College of Agriculture and Natural Resources is addressing avian influenza on multiple fronts--from assisting with farm management, education and response at the state level to surveilling for the disease in the wild and researching the biomolecular epidemiology of the disease. See Preventing a Poultry Pandemic, Why this bird flu is different, and Q&A with AGNR experts on Bird Flu
- Professor Jennifer Mullinax has published on the spread of High-path avian influenza H5N1 into the U.S. and its prevalence among raptors and mammals and livestock. Her work discusses management options to prevent the disease from spilling over.
- Mostafa Ghanem is an epidemiologist and poultry specialist developing advanced techniques for surveillance, prevention, and control of infectious diseases, including H5N1.
- Jaekeun Park and Andrew Broadbent have been developing model chicken lung and gut “organoids” to more easily study the mechanisms of infection and immune response to influenza viruses and working toward vaccine targets without the use of live animals.
- Kristen Coleman is studying the prevalence of bird flu in domestic animals and working to prevent the spread among pets as well as reduce the risk of it jumping to humans.
- Poultry specialists and extension agents like Jonathan Moyle and Jenny Rhodes are working diligently with Maryland farmers on biosecurity measures and education to protect the state’s poultry flocks from infection.
Michigan State University
Safeguarding Michigan agriculture and 4-H learning amid HPAI outbreak
In 2024, Michigan faced a significant outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), affecting poultry, dairy cattle, and associated industries. The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) issued an executive order imposing biosecurity measures, impacting fairs, exhibitions, and 4-H youth. In response, Michigan State University (MSU) Extension collaborated with MDARD, MSU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, and the Michigan Association of Fairs and Exhibitions to support 4-H youth and event organizers. They provided educational resources, alternative activities, and biosecurity guidance, enabling youth to continue participating in modified exhibitions. This effort protected animal and public health while preserving valuable learning opportunities for 4-H participants.
Source: National Impacts Database
University of Minnesota and Texas A&M University
Like Minnesota, the state of Texas is strong in livestock. The University of Minnesota Extension’s livestock team has long led in research and education on preventing the spread of disease among farms, especially since the 2015 outbreak of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza and the 2024 spread of avian influenza into dairy cows.
When the North Star and Lone Star states got together on livestock biosecurity, the collaboration proved timely. Texas documented its first case of avian influenza in commercial poultry in April 2024, not long after the first detection of H5N1 was confirmed in Texas dairy cattle. Avian influenza was first detected in a Minnesota dairy in June 2024. The team created a playlist of 16 videos covering planning, outbreak prevention strategies, concerns for small-scale farms, emergency preparedness and more.
University of Minnesota
Researchers from the University of Minnesota’s College of Veterinary Medicine will lead a collaborative effort to address highly pathogenic avian influenza and its emerging threat to Minnesota wildlife.
For two years, highly pathogenic avian influenza, also known as “bird flu” or HPAI, has made headlines for its devastating impact on free-ranging birds, free-ranging mammals and the poultry industry. More information is emerging about its spread to cows and humans, yet little is known about its impact on wild animals. Full story is here: CVM researchers lead effort to track bird flu’s threat to Minnesota wildlife
University of Minnesota Extension
From June 2024 Toolkit: University of Minnesota Extension's team of dedicated educators, veterinarians and pathologists has been working across agencies and organizations to keep dairy farmers and the public up to date on avian influenza in dairy via Extension's Animal and Livestock news feed.
One item in the news feed is an April 29 episode of Extension's The Moos Room podcast. In this episode Dr. Joe Armstrong, Extension livestock educator and DVM, discusses what veterinarians and producers need to know from the guidance document for the federal order requiring H5N1 pre-movement testing for lactating dairy cattle crossing state lines. Since its 2020 launch, The Moos Room has produced 228 episodes, had listeners in 71 countries, and been downloaded approximately 36,000 times.
Mississippi State University / Extension Service
In Mississippi, highly pathogenic avian influenza poses a risk to backyard flocks and the state’s $3 billion commercial poultry industry. While HPAI presents a low risk to human health and food safety, poultry experts with the Mississippi State University Extension Service emphasize the importance of maintaining strong biosecurity measures to protect chickens. Extension recommends vigilant monitoring, such as disposing of dead birds properly and reporting unusual mortality. Backyard flock owners are urged to follow strict biosecurity practices similar to commercial poultry producers, including washing hands, wearing dedicated footwear, and avoiding close contact with birds. Keeping chickens contained and limiting exposure to wild birds is also critical in preventing disease spread. Extension offers a range of educational resources and publications for growers, such as “Avian Influenza What to Do as a Backyard Grower,” “Composting Mortality in an Avian Influenza Outbreak,” and “Help prevent avian influenza in Mississippi”.
Additional MSU information:
Biosecurity can keep backyard flocks safe
Egg prices, shortages climb with HPAI cases
Safety practices prevent spread of H5N1
University of Missouri-Columbia / Extension
Experts urge biosecurity in poultry flocks: Risk to consumers from highly pathogenic avian flu is low.
Strict biosecurity is urged in Missouri poultry operations to prevent the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), which has been confirmed in five southwestern Missouri counties.
“Highly pathogenic avian influenza is a concern for large and small poultry flocks alike,” said Cory Bromfield, University of Missouri Extension veterinarian. “Small flocks include households with a handful or less of birds.” To slow the spread, the Missouri Department of Agriculture has suspended all poultry and waterfowl auctions, shows and swap meets in Missouri counties containing control areas or surveillance zones as determined by the department.
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
There is a lot of concern about spread of avian influenza among both beef and dairy producers in Nebraska. University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s BeefWatch newsletter to several thousand cattle producers, industry partners, faculty at peer institutions and media members across the beef industry (mostly in Nebraska but also beyond). A recent BeefWatch podcast provided a good overview of the current strain of avian influenza affecting dairy cattle, along with basic information about spread, confirmed cases, etc.
University of New Hampshire
Research & Testing: The serology department at the NH Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (NHVDL) at the University of New Hampshire tests blood from approximately 6,500 chickens annually from backyard and commercial operations in New Hampshire and Massachusetts.
Backyard and commercial owners and veterinarians can also submit carcasses for autopsy by the NHVDL, which checks for avian influenza infection using rapid antigen screening tests and pathological findings. Suspected cases are sent to other veterinary labs and the USDA National Veterinary Services Lab for more testing and confirmation. These diagnostic services are conducted in collaboration with the NH Department of Agriculture Markets and Foods (NHDAMF) and provided to various clients, stakeholders and other state agencies.
The NHVDL also tests deceased domestic and wild birds and deceased domestic and wild mammals for avian influenza. The lab has no current research into avian influenza.
Education & Extension: UNH Extension offers a Poultry Health & Management for the Small Flock resource that chicken owners can use to identify symptoms of avian influenza. This resource offers guidance on identifying animals showing signs of avian influenza and on biosecurity measures aimed at preventing outbreaks.
Cornell University / College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Cornell University experts are working diligently to advance understanding around avian flu’s impacts to dairy consumers and producers alike, across New York state and beyond.
- Recent Cornell Chronicle news story on Cornell CALS efforts to support NYS residents with avian flu updates
- Cornell Institute for Food Safety Office Hours update on the HPAI in cattle topic
- Cornell Institute for Food Safety Fact sheet and related resource webpage
- Cornell’s PRO-DAIRY herd and health management guidelines
- Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine – Animal Health Diagnostics Center – information on testing and diagnostics
North Dakota State University
NDSU Extension Responds to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
In North Dakota, more than 400,000 birds at 38 sites in 21 counties have been affected with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) since 2022.
An NDSU Extension response team coordinates with state and federal partners and provides regular updates through biweekly meetings and emails. They have developed resources, including talking points, handouts, five publications and a webpage, to assist those responding to HPAI cases.
The team disseminated nine press releases, reaching 45,000 individuals, and responded to 10 interview requests, reaching 100,000 individuals. NDSU Extension social media channels also shared regular updates.
NDSU Extension has been onsite in counties with active backyard and commercial flock cases. Extension agents have directly contacted over 1,500 individuals as part of surveillance efforts in the control zones. An NDSU Extension specialist assisted with carcass disposal efforts for seven commercial flocks in coordination with state and federal agencies.
NDSU Extension received a 2024 USDA-APHIS National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program grant totaling over $217,000 to train professionals to safely respond to an animal disease outbreak or mass livestock mortality.
NDSU Extension is actively evaluating opportunities to improve our ability to support producers impacted by HPAI and other foreign animal diseases and mass livestock mortalities in the future.
Submitted by:
Mary Keena, Extension Livestock Environmental Management Specialist, NDSU Carrington Research Extension Center
Miranda Meehan, Extension Livestock Environmental Stewardship Specialist and Extension Disaster Education Coordinator, NDSU Animal Sciences
The Ohio State University
The Ohio State University’s Dr. Andy Bowman, an expert on influenza, has appeared recently in the stories below:
Oklahoma State University
OSU Agriculture has produced many informational pieces regarding HPAI. Also, several faculty in animal science and agricultural economics have provided interviews to state and national media. Their livestock Extension specialists have spoken to HPAI in terms of biosecurity and protocol to prevent the spread of the illness. Ag econ faculty have spoken to the volatility of egg prices.
Faculty include:
- Jayson Lusk, vice president and dean of OSU Agriculture
- Amy Hagerman, agriculture and food policy specialist
- Rodney Holcomb, food economics specialist
- Barry Whitworth, animal science specialist
- Rosslyn Biggs, beef cattle specialist
Editorial coverage:
- OSU Extension warns poultry owners to know the signs of highly pathogenic avian influenza
- Backyard flock owners on high alert for avian influenza
General webpage with resources is here.
Fact sheets:
- Small Flock Biosecurity for Prevention of Avian Influenza
- Mortality Management Options During an Avian Influenza Outbreak
- Livestock Disease: Cause and Control
TV show segments:
Oregon State University Extension
Oregon State University Extension Service provides Oregonians with trusted, science-based information to help protect animal health and safeguard public safety during health crises like highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Through timely outreach, expert guidance, and collaboration with local and national agencies, OSU Extension empowers communities to stay informed and take proactive measures, ensuring the continued well-being of both wildlife and agriculture in Oregon.
See Oregon State Extension updates public on avian influenza in poultry and livestock
University of Rhode Island
Photo courtesy of the University of Rhode Island.
URI wildlife disease expert discusses avian flu, risks and prevention
With the advent of cases of avian flu in southern New England, and the rise in egg prices due to limited supply as a result, concerns are rising about the threat and impact of the fowl-borne illness. Highly pathogenic avian influenza made its way into North America in late 2021 then spread rapidly across the continent. Global spread has continued while the virus has maintained presence in wild migratory birds.
Johanna Harvey, a noted wildlife disease ecologist and assistant professor can offer expert perspective. An evolutionary ecologist with a focus on immunogenetics, conservation and management science, Harvey’s research focuses on emergent diseases such as avian influenza and pathogens including avian malaria parasites and vampire flies.
At URI, she is bringing a focus on immunology and the role of wildlife disease in bird populations. The immunological and pathogenic response mechanisms of the current H5N1 circulating avian influenza are not understood for diverse wild bird and mammal species currently being impacted, she says. Harvey’s research seeks to provide research and solutions to inform disease management and improve conservation and species management for sensitive species. Full story is here.
Penn State / Extension / College of Agricultural Sciences
In early 2022, a strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI, spread across the United States, devastating commercial and backyard poultry flocks. By February 2025, Pennsylvania had lost more than 7 million birds to the virus, threatening the state’s $7.1 billion poultry industry. Helping to minimize and mitigate these losses were the efforts of Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences and Penn State Extension, working in collaboration with state and federal agriculture officials and industry groups.
Penn State poultry scientists and extension educators serve on a state HPAI task force formed in 2015 to develop plans for how to prevent, respond to and recover from any potential outbreak in the state. Penn State experts also have contributed science-based information on avian biology and poultry production practices; assisted producers in developing required biosecurity plans; and helped direct depopulation and disposal of affected flocks. As HPAI has spread through U.S. dairy cattle, Penn State dairy and veterinary specialists have provided education for producers to help keep avian flu out of the state’s dairy herds and keep dairy farm workers safe.
In addition, Penn State’s Animal Diagnostic Laboratory — one of three labs in the Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System — has made important contributions to disease surveillance by testing tens of thousands of poultry and milk samples for HPAI and by developing rapid diagnostic tools that can help authorities respond more quickly to outbreaks.
South Dakota State University / Extension
South Dakota State University’s College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences has been at the forefront of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) virus detection since the 2015 outbreak devastated domestic poultry in the Upper Midwest. For the current (2022-present) outbreak, the South Dakota Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (ADRDL) has performed over 7,300 individual tests for HPAI to help guide disease management in commercial and backyard poultry. After the virus emerged in dairy cattle and domestic cats in early 2024, the ADRDL nimbly moved to include HPAI testing for those species.
Through its SDSU Extension and outreach efforts and embedded state public health veterinarian, SDSU’s Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences has kept stakeholders abreast of HPAI’s rapidly evolving implications for animals and people. Wider audiences have been reached through postings on the SDSU Extension website (Avian Influenza Viruses in Dairy Cows: What is the role of biosecurity?; Cat Death Losses Due to HPAI in South Dakota).
Additionally, a group of ADRDL researchers is tackling large-scale serosurveillance and genetic sequencing of HPAI virus in cattle to determine prevalence and virus evolution in healthy and affected populations. The work is supported by NIH funding through the Centers of Excellence in Influenza Research and Response Network in collaboration with Emory University.
Tennessee State University
Promoting Poultry Biosecurity and Poultry Education Across Tennessee
Tennessee State University (TSU) Extension, in collaboration with the University of Tennessee Extension, is dedicated to educating extension agents and small-flock farmers on essential poultry management topics, including biosecurity practices to reduce the risk of avian influenza outbreaks. Through the development of fact sheets and hands-on workshops, TSU actively promotes biosecurity awareness and best-management practices for poultry producers.
The TSU New Farmer Academy and Small Farm Expo provides education on flock health and disease management to beginning and experienced farmers across Tennessee. TSU Extension conducts annual in-service training across the state, equipping extension agents with essential knowledge on poultry management, with a strong emphasis on biosecurity.
The university also coordinates the Master Backyard Poultry Producer Program, integrating biosecurity as a core component, especially in response to the ongoing avian influenza outbreak.
For more information, visit TSU Poultry Program and TSU Extension webpage.
University of Wisconsin – Madison
Tackling the Threat of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI): A Collaborative Effort
The recent outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), commonly known as bird flu, has posed significant challenges to the agricultural sector, particularly affecting dairy and livestock industries. Below are highlights of the concerted efforts and initiatives undertaken by various stakeholders to combat the spread of HPAI and mitigate its impact.
Controlled Environments and Disease Management
In response to the HPAI outbreak, the University of Wisconsin–Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) and Division of Extension have been at the forefront of educating livestock producers, regulatory agencies, and state veterinarians on the importance of proper ventilation at livestock mortality composting and burial sites. This initiative aims to reduce the risk of disease transmission by managing these sites as controlled environments during outbreaks. The program has successfully increased awareness and knowledge about the disposal of animal mortalities infected by airborne diseases, reaching 63 individuals, including dairy and sheep producers, state veterinarians, and APHIS representatives.
Eastern Wisconsin DHIC Newsletter
The Eastern Wisconsin Dairy Herd Improvement Cooperative (DHIC), in partnership with the UW–Madison Division of Extension, has been disseminating crucial information through a bi-monthly newsletter. This publication provides updates on HPAI, pest alerts, and climate outlook reports, reaching approximately 300 dairy producers. The newsletter has been instrumental in driving engagement with Extension programs and ensuring timely delivery of research-based solutions to farmers.
Media Outreach and Public Awareness
Efforts to raise public awareness about HPAI have included interviews with prominent media outlets. For instance, Leonard Polzin, a Specialist from UW–Madison Extension, provided an interview to The Atlantic, reaching over 1 million subscribers. This interview highlighted the spread and economic impacts of HPAI on the dairy industry, fostering informed policy decision-making.
Regional Dairy Educator Aerica Bjurstrom conducted a radio interview with Door County Daily News, which was broadcast to an audience of 80,000-100,000 unique visitors per month. The interview emphasized the importance of biosecurity measures and the need for enhanced testing requirements for dairy cattle.
Educational Resources and Infographics
To aid dairy farmers in understanding federal orders related to HPAI, UW–Madison Extension developed an infographic fact sheet. This resource provided visual scenarios to clarify testing requirements for interstate transportation of lactating dairy cattle. The fact sheet has been widely distributed, increasing awareness and understanding among dairy farmers and industry stakeholders.
Presentations and Workshops
Educational presentations have been a key component of the outreach efforts. Regional Dairy Educator Aerica Bjurstrom delivered a presentation on the current situation of HPAI in dairy cattle, covering topics such as disease transmission, travel restrictions, and biosecurity measures. The presentation received positive feedback, with 96% of attendees reporting improved knowledge of HPAI and its impact on dairy farm profitability.