USDA monitoring highly contagious bird flu outbreak in Indiana

The virus has impacted more than half a million birds since this outbreak began in 2022.

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The USDA and CDC are keeping tabs on the bird flu situation across the country. But Indiana is now leading the nation in at least one count.

The Hoosier state has seen the most bird flu cases in the nation in the last 30 days, according to data from the USDA. The agency reports there have been 21 impacted commercial flocks and 18 backyard flocks. The total birds affected since the beginning of the outbreak is 511,710.

Recently, birds have been impacted in Elkhart County, Lagrange County, and Johnson County, Indiana.

The map below, created and updated by the USDA, shows where the bird flu has been detected in commercial flocks in the last 30 days. California, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Michigan, North Carolina and Georgia are also dealing with the outbreak.

Why this matters

While rare, bird flu viruses can jump from infected birds to humans, especially people who work closely with poultry. The H5N1 strain circulating now has caused serious illness and deaths globally when transmitted to humans. Each human infection gives the virus another chance to mutate in ways that might make human-to-human transmission easier.

There are currently no confirmed cases in humans in Indiana or Kentucky.

There is also the risk of food supply disruption, which drives up egg and poultry prices and can create temporary shortages.

Beyond consumer prices, these outbreaks devastate farming communities. Producers lose entire flocks, processing plants shut down, and workers lose jobs. The ripple effects touch feed suppliers, veterinarians, and rural economies that depend on poultry farming.

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