Baldwin Introduces Bill to Combat Wildlife Disease Outbreaks

Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) introduced legislation to prevent transmission of wildlife diseases like avian flu and chronic wasting disease between wildlife, livestock, and humans. The Wildlife Health Coordination and Zoonotic Disease Prevention Act increases interagency coordination, facilitates information sharing, improves coordination between states, and furthers sharing of best practices for managing wildlife and zoonotic disease outbreaks.

“Wisconsin farmers have dealt with the devastating fallout of avian flu and chronic wasting disease for far too long,” said Senator Baldwin. “These diseases don’t just threaten our...

First Continent-Wide Map of Dominant Avian Influenza Strain Explains Its Spread

An international group of scientists mapped the spread of the current dominant strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus through North American bird populations in 2024. Led by scientists from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, the collaboration provides a comprehensive view of this novel flu spreading through birds in North America. The investigators collected and sequenced samples from birds across the continent, letting them map the virus's spread. They also compared the virus from birds to those causing human infections, showing that current human vaccine stockpiles will likely...

USDA Funds $2M Project to Test Novel Antiviral Fogging Technology Against Avian Influenza

A research team led by Purdue University, with partners Entomol and 1,4Group, has been awarded $2 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to evaluate a novel antiviral fogging technology to combat high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) which remains a serious threat to poultry health and the global food supply. 

The project's lead investigator is Dr. Ekramy Sayedahmed, Assistant Professor of Poultry Medicine at Purdue University's College of Veterinary Medicine. His research focuses on avian influenza vaccines...

The Americas Strengthen Surveillance Against Avian Influenza

Professionals from official veterinary services from 15 countries in the Americas participated in the first in-person workshop of the Latin America Edition 2025/2026 of the Regional Program for the Systematic Education of Veterinary Services (ProgRESSVet), focused on strengthening epidemiological surveillance and the early detection of avian influenza in the region.

The meeting took place in Panama City and brought together professionals who have been participating in the virtual phase of the program since March 2025. The initiative is coordinated by the Center for Animal Health and Food Safety (CAHFS) at the...

New $1.9 Million Grant Lets Montana State Team Deepen Understanding of Avian Flu

With the support of a recent federal grant, a team of Montana State University microbiologists will spend the next three years expanding and deepening research into one of the world’s most damaging agricultural viruses, capitalizing on cutting-edge facilities and technologies housed at the university.

Assistant professor Emma Loveday of the College of Agriculture’s Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology is the lead investigator on a $1.9 million grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to study HPAI, or highly pathogenic avian influenza, more commonly known as “bird flu.” Avian influenza viruses are very diverse and originate in wild aquatic birds...

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Confirmed in Jefferson County

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) has identified a case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a commercial poultry flock in Jefferson County.

DATCP and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) animal health officials are working together in a joint incident response. The affected premises has been quarantined to restrict movement of poultry and poultry products. Birds on the property will be depopulated to prevent the spread of the disease. Birds from the flock will not enter the food system.

The H5N1 HPAI virus has continued to circulate in both wild and domestic birds in North America since December 2021...

ANALYSIS: Avian Influenza Outbreaks in EU Accelerate in 2025, Surpassing Previous Year's Pace

The European poultry sector faces mounting pressure from a resurgent wave of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), with outbreak frequency significantly exceeding 2024 levels and raising critical supply chain concerns across member states.

On October 7, 2025, Dutch authorities ordered the culling of 71,000 chickens at a northern Netherlands facility following confirmed H5N1 detection, marking the country's first outbreak since March. The Dutch government has refrained from implementing nationwide indoor confinement measures. However, an expert animal disease panel is convening for a comprehensive risk assessment...

EU Egg Market Sentiment Heading Into Summer

As the EU egg market moves into the summer period, sentiment is becoming increasingly two-sided. Summer is traditionally marked by a seasonal slowdown in trading activity, as consumer habits shift and production schedules ease.

This seasonal dip has already begun to take hold, with buying interest noticeably subdued throughout May. However, the usual expectations of softer summer demand are being weighed against a backdrop of heightened supply-side risk. Concerns over future availability, particularly following avian influenza-related flock reductions in Poland—are beginning to shape market psychology...