By Micah Jonah
March 1, 2026
A severe outbreak of bird flu has wiped out 7.4 million chickens in the US state of Pennsylvania within one month, deepening a nationwide crisis that has already eliminated nearly 196 million birds over the past four years.
Governor Josh Shapiro described the situation as a crisis, noting that infections are emerging much earlier than expected this season. Pennsylvania is the fourth-largest egg-producing state in the country, raising fresh concerns about potential impacts on egg and poultry supplies.
Veterinary experts and agriculture officials suspect that unusually cold winter temperatures may have contributed to the surge. Frozen rivers and ponds are believed to have driven wild birds, including snow geese, closer to poultry farms in search of food and open water. Wild birds are known carriers of the virus and can spread it rapidly to commercial flocks.
Most of the recent losses have occurred in Lancaster County, a major poultry-producing region west of Philadelphia where farms are densely concentrated. Since late January, farms with more than seven million birds have reported infections. Under federal health regulations, all birds on infected farms must be culled to prevent further transmission.
The outbreak extends a national crisis that began four years ago and has affected poultry operations across the United States. The virus has also been detected in farm workers and various mammal species globally, though health authorities maintain that the overall risk to the public remains low.
Experts warn that the situation could worsen as spring migration begins, historically a high-risk period when wild waterfowl move across regions, increasing the likelihood of transmission to domestic flocks.
State and federal authorities continue to monitor developments closely while urging poultry farmers to enforce strict biosecurity measures to contain further spread.
