As Pennsylvania enters what Governor Josh Shapiro has described as “crisis mode,” commercial HPAI losses in the state have surpassed 7.6 million birds in 2026, with 7.4 million culled in just the past 30 days. Additional mid-size outbreaks in South Dakota and Kansas signal continued domestic spread, while South Carolina confirmed its first commercial case of the 2022–2026 outbreak. Internationally, Cambodia reported its first human H5N1 infection of the year, South Korea’s poultry outbreak total reached 50, and new commercial cases emerged in Canada and Argentina.
Gov. Shapiro: “Crisis Mode” as Pennsylvania Bird Flu Losses Top 7.6 Million
Pennsylvania’s poultry industry continues to be hit by severe, large-scale highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks. The USDA reports that the state has lost more than 7.6 million birds across at least 13 commercial flocks in 2026, including 7.4 million birds in the past 30 days alone (United States Department of Agriculture, 2024). On February 17, APHIS confirmed two Lancaster County flocks involving 2,641,200 laying hens and 393,300 pullets, along with a Dauphin County laying hen flock with 70,000 hens. On February 18, four additional Lancaster County flocks were confirmed — 1,451,700 laying hens, 178,900 broilers, and two meat turkey flocks of 14,000 and 15,000 birds (United States Department of Agriculture, 2024). Since February 2022, Pennsylvania has lost approximately 14.6 million birds to HPAI, with roughly half of those losses occurring in the first two months of 2026 (Sharber, 2026). Governor Josh Shapiro said the state is operating in “crisis mode,” and he convened producers and federal partners in Lancaster County on February 24th to outline an expanded response, including expanded testing and personnel deployment (Sweitzer, 2026). Pennsylvania has now mobilized 105 staff, including 42 USDA employees and 55 state veterinarians, and has processed more than 80,000 bird tests since January (WATTPoultry Staff, 2026). Poultry represents a $7.1 billion sector within Pennsylvania’s $132.5 billion agriculture industry (WATTPoultry Staff, 2026).
Mid-Size Commercial HPAI Outbreaks Confirmed in South Dakota and Kansas
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) on February 24 in a 50,400-bird commercial meat turkey flock in Beadle County, South Dakota. This marks the state’s third commercial poultry outbreak of 2026, all involving turkey operations. On the same date, February 24, APHIS confirmed HPAI in a 24,000-bird commercial egg laying breeder flock in Pottawatomie County, Kansas. This is Kansas’ second commercial poultry outbreak of 2026; the first, confirmed January 6 in the same county, involved 380,000 commercial pullets (Graber, 2026f).
Cambodia Confirms First Human H5N1 Case of 2026
Cambodia’s Ministry of Health confirmed its first human case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) of 2026 in a 30-year-old man from Tuek Chhou district, Kampot province. The patient developed fever, cough, and abdominal pain and has since recovered, returning home on February 14 (Xinhua, 2026). Investigators identified dead chickens at the patient’s residence that had been cooked approximately three days before illness onset. Antiviral prophylaxis (oseltamivir) was distributed to close contacts, and health authorities initiated contact tracing and source investigations. Cambodia has reported 36 human H5 infections since 2023, with case-fatality rates exceeding 40%. Recent cases have largely involved a reassortant clade (2.3.2.1e) combining a long-circulating Cambodian lineage with globally circulating clade 2.3.4.4b viruses. The case represents the country’s first human detection since November 2025 (Soucheray, 2026).
South Carolina Reports First Commercial Poultry HPAI Case of 2022–2026 Outbreak
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed H5N1 on February 23 in a 36,000-bird commercial meat turkey flock in Lee County, South Carolina. This marks the state’s first commercial poultry detection of the 2022–2026 North American HPAI outbreak (Graber, 2026d).
South Korea Reaches 50 Poultry Outbreaks, HPAI Expands Across Asia
South Korea has recorded 50 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks in poultry since September 2025, according to the agriculture ministry as of February 26. The latest case involved approximately 6,000 ducks in South Jeolla province. Two days earlier, infections were confirmed in two laying hen flocks in Sejong. Authorities have notified the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) of 28 outbreaks involving more than 2.86 million commercial birds, with cumulative H5N1-related losses exceeding 3.44 million birds this season. Elsewhere in Asia, Japan confirmed two additional outbreaks this week — 60,000 hens in Chiba and 560,000 layers in Iwate — bringing its seasonal total to 20 outbreaks and more than 4.88 million birds affected. Taiwan also reported eight H5N1 outbreaks over the past month, impacting over 131,000 birds. In India, H5N1 was confirmed in the southeast (16,600 birds), while Bhutan, the Philippines, and Israel also logged new or ongoing outbreaks (Linden, 2026).
Canada Confirms First Commercial HPAI Case in Over One Month
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) on February 19 in a commercial poultry flock in Amherstburg, Ontario. Flock type and bird count have not been disclosed. This marks Canada’s first commercial detection since January 15. The Ontario and Quebec cases are the only confirmed commercial poultry outbreaks in Canada in 2026. In 2025, Canada recorded 82 commercial poultry outbreaks across six provinces, led by British Columbia (31) and Alberta (16) (Graber, 2026c).
Argentina Confirms H5 HPAI in 30,000-Bird Breeder Flock, Ending Disease-Free Status
The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5) in a 30,000-bird heavy breeding stock flock in Buenos Aires province, Argentina, on February 23. The National Service of Agri-Food Health and Quality (SENASA) reported 694 bird deaths and clinical signs consistent with HPAI prior to laboratory confirmation. The infection source was listed as unknown or inconclusive, and all birds on the premises are being depopulated. Argentina is the third-largest poultry producer in South America, and the case ends their HPAI-free status, which had been maintained since September 2025 (Graber, 2026e).
References
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