Biosecurity Alert: HPAI Update May 2026

Though migration season is wrapping up, poultry producers and hobbyists should be aware that highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is still a risk and continues to be detected in poultry and wild birds throughout the US and around the world. Biosecurity is still critical! Detections have slowed, but from January to April 2026, Pennsylvania recorded 30 detections in both commercial and backyard flocks, impacting 8.7 million birds. Since the start of the outbreak in 2022, almost 16 million birds have been affected by HPAI in Pennsylvania alone.

The HPAI virus has also been detected in many species other than poultry, including various wildlife, mammals, and livestock. In the spring of 2024, the virus was detected in US dairy cattle herds. As of May 2026. Through milk-testing programs, the state has been declared free of the disease in dairy cattle, and monitoring continues as needed to check that status. While the disease in dairy cattle is non-lethal, producers should still be especially aware of the risks of cross-contamination when farming multiple species.

As the virus continues to circulate in wild bird populations, especially waterfowl, the primary reservoir of the disease, it is crucial that poultry owners prioritize implementing good biosecurity practices. All flocks, regardless of size, should have a biosecurity plan. Preventing the introduction and potential spread of this extremely contagious disease is essential. If you don't have a plan, now is the time to start!

Here are some examples of practices that you can start implementing immediately.

• Have designated footwear that you only wear around your poultry
• Clean and disinfect footwear, tools, and other equipment before servicing poultry
  • Clean – scrub with soap and warm water to remove organic material first, rinse, then allow to dry
  • Disinfect – apply disinfectant to clean surfaces and objects according to the dilution and contact time indicated on the label
• Keep your poultry away from wild birds, rodents, or other wildlife
  • Keep feed in sealed containers and clean up spills immediately
  • Maintaining your flock indoors in a coop or other enclosed shelter with four walls and a roof is the best protection. If poultry are outdoors, keep them in a contained area (fenced in and preferably with netting over the top of the enclosure to keep wild birds out)
  • Place covered rodent bait stations or traps when signs of rodents appear. Close any holes in poultry buildings to prevent rodents from entering.
• Limit visitors to those necessary for business, and maintain visitor logs. Ask visitors to:
  • Wear designated footwear
  • Wear clean clothes
  • Do not have contact with birds for 72 hours prior to their visit
  • Do not visit other flocks unless necessary, and follow the same procedures as above if you do
• Do not share tools or equipment with other poultry owners
• Do not accept deliveries at the poultry house unless they are for feed or other necessary items.
• Use footbaths where possible at entrances to poultry areas
  • Footbaths are much more effective when properly maintained. This means regularly refreshing disinfectants, ensuring they remain free of organic materials such as mud or manure, and maintaining proper disinfectant concentrations.

Movement of poultry, poultry products and byproducts, and poultry manure into, within, or out of an HPAI control area requires a movement permit. A premise ID and a biosecurity plan approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) are both important requirements for obtaining this permit.

Even if a movement permit is not necessary, flocks of all sizes can benefit from registering for a premise ID (Register for a premise ID) with PDA. For flocks outside of Pennsylvania, contact your state’s department of agriculture for information on premise ID registration. Registering will help protect the poultry industry by enabling animal health officials to quickly and precisely identify where animals that may be affected are located during an outbreak. When a flock is in the system, PDA can inform owners and producers about HPAI or other relevant disease outbreaks in a timely manner. Premise IDs should be registered with the location of the birds themselves, even if the farmer lives on a different property, to ensure that the birds can be located in the event of an animal health emergency.

For help creating a biosecurity plan or for other questions about HPAI, visit the Penn State Extension HPAI page or contact one of our poultry experts.

If you observe increased mortality or other clinical signs compatible with HPAI (lethargy, decreased feed intake or egg production, respiratory distress, swelling/discoloration of extremities, etc.), please call 717-772-2852 immediately and select option 1 for the emergency on-call veterinarian at PDA. If there is no answer, please leave a message with your phone number, and the vet will call you back.