HPAI

The Oregon State Department of Agriculture is reminding everyone with animals, whether that’s livestock or pets, to protect them and yourself by focusing on biosecurity.  Biosecurity is the first line of defense in protecting livestock from disease outbreaks and ensuring a safe, healthy environment.  By following ...

New research from Oregon State University shows wild birds continue to be the biggest carriers of avian influenza.  Wastewater detections of bird flu are highest in or near communities with important wild bird habitats, according to the new OSU study, meaning detections of the virus in wastewater does not automatically signal human cases.  Multnom...

On Wednesday, the Washington State Department of Agriculture confirmed that two more indoor cats have contracted Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza.  WSDA said the cats, one in King County, the other in Snohomish, were consuming Wild Coast Raw pet food, a pet food that was previously identified during a prior public health alert.  One of ...

Earlier this week, the USDA released its annual Chicken and Eggs Summary, which has the latest numbers of egg layers, egg production, and the total U.S. chicken inventory as of December 1st, 2024.   “According to this report, layers in 2024 were estimated at an average of 375 million. Now this ...

In 2021, when the national average of egg prices was under $2 a dozen, Nevada joined several other states requiring that eggs sold in the state come from cage-free chickens.  However, a dozen eggs costs an average of nearly $5 across the county, thanks to the bird flu.  In response last week,...

The Trump administration is preparing to move away from depopulating entire flocks infected by bird flu.  The focus will instead be on biosecurity and medication to contain the outbreaks.   Reuters reported last week that the USDA has given conditional approval to Zoetis to use its bird flu vaccine in poultry.  Zoetis, whic...

According to a recent Reuters article, the Trump administration has disrupted the U.S. response to bird flu as the outbreak worsens, leading to confusion and concern among federal staff, state officials, veterinarians, and health experts.  Since Presid...

Two cats from different households in Oregon's Multnomah County have died as a result of bird flu.  Oregon’s Department of Agriculture says both cats got the virus from eating raw pet food made by Wild Coast Raw based in Olympia, WA.   The ow...

On Tuesday, the Washington State Department of Agriculture confirmed the first case of bird flu in Mason County, northwest of Olympia.  The H5N1 case was discovered in a small backyard flock of ducks last week, but wasn't confirmed until Monday February 10th.   ...

Bird flu is forcing farmers to slaughter millions of chickens a month, pushing U.S. egg prices to more than double their cost in the summer of 2023.  And it appears there may be no relief in sight, given the surge in demand as Easter approaches.   ...