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CDFA reports widespread avian influenza detections, estimates 10 million laying hens lost
Summary
California Department of Food and Agriculture officials told the State Board of Food and Agriculture that highly pathogenic avian influenza has been detected across multiple species and that the fall outbreak is likely linked to wild-bird transmission along the Pacific Flyway.
Secretary Ross, head of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, told the State Board of Food and Agriculture that the department has detected highly pathogenic avian influenza in multiple animal populations and that the outbreak this fall is likely tied to wild-bird transmission along the Pacific Migratory Flyway.
"We believe it is endemic in the wild bird population," Secretary Ross said, describing this as the third or fourth year of wild-bird transmission and warning that the timing and intensity of outbreaks vary by flyway and region.
The department provided counts and operational details during its departmental update. Secretary Ross said the department had detected the virus in 715 birds, in dairy cattle, and in 61 poultry flocks; more than 80 farms that were previously affected have been released after testing negative through a three-week process. He estimated that about 10,000,000 laying hens have been lost across the fall season.
Why it matters: California relies heavily on both in-state and out-of-state producers for cage-free egg supply, and the department said the losses this year occurred during the peak holiday demand season for eggs. Secretary Ross added that California supplies a large share of cage-free eggs used within the state and that demand spikes from Thanksgiving through New Year's complicate supply stability.
Department actions and context: Secretary Ross said CDFA is collaborating with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, universities including UC Davis, and other state and federal partners on surveillance, research and response. He described ongoing wastewater testing and multiple research studies the agency is supporting, and said federal agencies are conducting vaccine trials for poultry and cattle.
Board members pressed the department on whether the outbreak should be viewed as cyclical or a growing, endemic risk. Secretary Ross answered that the department and its scientific partners consider this recurrent wild-bird transmission and that long-term, integrated "One Health" coordination among human, animal and environmental health experts is necessary.
Public comments touched on related habitat and aquaculture topics but did not alter department plans. The department did not announce any new regulatory actions at the meeting; Secretary Ross said staff will continue coordination with USDA, universities and other agencies.
Clarifying details from the meeting: the department reported 715 bird detections, 61 poultry flock detections, and said more than 80 farms have completed a three-week testing process and been released. Secretary Ross described an estimated loss of approximately 10,000,000 laying hens during the fall season. He attributed heightened detection in California to the Pacific Migratory Flyway and said other regions experience different seasonal peaks.
What was not specified: the department did not provide a statewide projection of further losses, a timeline for when vaccine trials might be broadly available, nor an exact breakdown of the 10,000,000-hen estimate by county or operation type.
Ending: Secretary Ross said the department will continue surveillance and collaboration with federal partners and research institutions, and that CDFA expects to publish updates as studies and trials progress.
