Pennsylvania has recorded its first confirmed case this year of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a commercial poultry operation, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).
The case, confirmed January 28 in Lancaster County, involved a commercial laying hen flock totaling 1,509,700 birds. Earlier this year, the state also detected HPAI in two backyard flocks and two live bird markets. Under World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) guidelines, detections in those types of premises do not typically affect international poultry trade status.
The last time a commercial poultry flock in Pennsylvania tested positive for HPAI was December 29, 2025, when a commercial meat duck flock of 32,800 birds was affected. APHIS data shows the state experienced 10 commercial flock outbreaks in 2025, representing a combined loss of 2,327,600 birds.
Meanwhile, APHIS has also confirmed a new HPAI case in Indiana. On February 26, the agency verified the virus in a commercial duck breeder flock of 5,200 birds in LaGrange County. The Indiana State Board of Animal Health had previously identified the case as a presumptive positive.
This marks Indiana’s second commercial flock detection of HPAI in 2026. The other involved a commercial meat duck flock, and one backyard flock has also been impacted this year. All of Indiana’s cases so far have occurred in LaGrange County.
Looking back at 2025, Indiana ranked second nationally for both the number of flocks and total birds lost to HPAI, with only Ohio reporting higher totals.
