This period’s H5N1 activity was driven by large commercial turkey outbreaks in Minnesota, with Georgia and Indiana also reporting repeat detections. Washington state confirmed an HPAI-related death in an outdoor cat linked to wild bird exposure, and the discovery of H5N1 antibodies in a Dutch dairy cow marked the first known cattle exposure outside the U.S. Separately, South Korea moved to import U.S. eggs to stabilize prices amid outbreak-driven domestic supply disruptions.

Minnesota Confirms Three Large HPAI Outbreaks in Commercial Turkey Flocks

The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza in three commercial meat turkey flocks in Minnesota in mid-January, including one of the largest U.S. poultry losses so far this year. Two outbreaks occurred in Meeker County, where 77,300 turkeys tested positive on January 15, followed by a 250,600-bird flock confirmed on January 16. A third outbreak was confirmed on January 15 in Stearns County, affecting 46,500 turkeys. These detections bring Minnesota’s total to four commercial poultry flocks affected in 2026, following a January 12 case involving 9,000 turkey breeder hens, also in Meeker County. In 2025, the state lost 23 commercial flocks and nearly 1.2 million birds to HPAI, underscoring Minnesota’s continued vulnerability amid seasonal spread (Graber, 2026a).

Washington Reports HPAI Death in Outdoor Cat Linked to Wild Bird Exposure

Washington State confirmed the death of an outdoor domestic cat in Grant County after it contracted highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) through contact with an infected wild bird, marking the first confirmed feline case in the state tied to wildlife exposure rather than raw pet food. The Washington State Department of Agriculture announced the case on January 27 and said no human infections were associated. Officials noted ongoing HPAI circulation in wild birds and scavenging mammals across the Pacific Northwest, increasing environmental exposure risks for outdoor pets and poultry during the winter migration period (Odegard, 2026).

Second HPAI Outbreak Hits Georgia Broiler Breeders in January

USDA APHIS confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza in a commercial broiler breeder flock in Walker County, Georgia, on January 23, affecting 16,100 birds. This marks Georgia’s second commercial HPAI outbreak of 2026; a larger broiler breeder flock in the same county was confirmed positive on January 13, involving 71,300 birds. The clustered detections underscore continued HPAI pressure in northwest Georgia early in the year (Graber, 2026c).

Indiana Reports Second HPAI Detection of 2026 in Commercial Ducks

Indiana animal health officials reported two new highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) detections in commercial duck flocks in LaGrange County in late January, marking the state’s second and third reported incidents of 2026. On January 22, the Indiana State Board of Animal Health announced that a commercial duck breeder flock of 5,240 birds had tested positive, one day after reporting a separate presumed-positive case involving nearly 3,000 commercial meat ducks in the same county. Both premises were quarantined, and authorities established a 10-kilometer control area and a 20-kilometer surveillance zone covering parts of LaGrange, Noble, and Elkhart counties. Neither case has yet been formally confirmed by USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, though they follow a severe 2025 for Indiana’s poultry sector, when the state lost 67 commercial flocks totaling more than 8.6 million birds. The repeat detections reinforce that LaGrange County and surrounding areas remain among the most heavily affected poultry regions in the nation, with continued large-scale duck outbreaks pointing to sustained regional spread rather than isolated introductions (Graber, 2026b).

Europe Opens 2026 With HPAI Pressure

By January 14 of 2026, 10 European countries had recorded a combined 42 outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in commercial poultry, according to the European Commission. Poland led early-year detections, reporting outbreaks across multiple poultry categories that together affected more than 1.49 million birds in the first half of January alone. France, Germany, Hungary, and Belgium followed in outbreak counts. Belgium reported six new outbreaks during this period, bringing total losses since October to more than 950,000 birds. Germany recorded additional cases in its northern states, with more than 80 outbreaks logged since autumn. France’s outbreak total surpassed 110 cases since October, with nearly 1.8 million birds affected nationwide. Although not included in EU reporting, the United Kingdom also confirmed multiple H5N1 outbreaks on poultry farms since the start of 2026, including one involving Scotland’s largest egg producer (Linden, 2026).

Bird Flu Antibodies Detected in Dutch Dairy Cow, First Such Case Outside the U.S.

Dutch authorities have identified antibodies to H5N1 avian influenza in a dairy cow in the Netherlands, marking the first known indication of cattle exposure outside the United States. The finding followed the death of a farm cat from H5N1 in December, which prompted veterinary officials to test cattle on a dairy farm in Friesland. One cow showed antibodies in its milk, but no active virus was detected in any samples, and officials emphasized there is no evidence of onward spread to other farms. The affected cow had mastitis and respiratory symptoms last month, and its milk was withheld from processing; milk from the farm is pasteurized, which inactivates the virus. No workers or residents reported flu-like illness. Dutch officials said the source of exposure remains unclear and stressed that food safety risks are minimal. Experts praised the country’s surveillance system, noting that extensive cattle screening in 2024 found no infections despite widespread H5N1 activity in U.S. dairy herds. Further testing from the farm is ongoing as the Netherlands continues to manage a severe H5N1 outbreak in poultry and wild birds (Cohen, 2026).

South Korea to Distribute Imported U.S. Eggs as Avian Flu Pressures Prices

South Korea will begin distributing fresh eggs imported from the United States later this week in an effort to stabilize domestic egg prices following losses linked to avian influenza, the agriculture ministry said January 26. Earlier this month, the government agreed to purchase 2.24 million U.S. eggs; the first shipment of 1.12 million arrived last week, with the remainder expected by the end of January. Distribution is set to start Friday after quarantine and food safety inspections are completed. The move marks South Korea’s first import of U.S.-produced eggs in two years, following a similar purchase in January 2024. Officials said the imports are intended to offset supply disruptions as the country has confirmed 38 outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza at poultry farms so far this winter (Yonhap, 2026).

References

Cohen, J. (2026). Bird flu antibodies found in cow in the Netherlands, a first outside of U.S. AAAS Articles DO Group. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.zu49l21

Graber, R. (2026a, January 19). Avian influenza confirmed in 3 Minnesota turkey flocks. WATTPoultry.com. https://www.wattagnet.com/poultry-meat/diseases-health/avian-influenza/news/15814997/avian-influenza-confirmed-in-3-minnesota-turkey-flocks

Graber, R. (2026b, January 23). Indiana reports second HPAI detection of 2026. WATTPoultry.com. https://www.wattagnet.com/poultry-meat/diseases-health/avian-influenza/news/15815444/indiana-reports-second-hpai-detection-of-2026

Graber, R. (2026c, January 26). Avian flu confirmed in Georgia broiler breeder flock. WATTPoultry.com. https://www.wattagnet.com/poultry-meat/diseases-health/avian-influenza/news/15815607/avian-flu-confirmed-in-georgia-broiler-breeder-flock

Linden, J. (2026, January 19). Poultry farm avian flu outbreaks confirmed in 11 European states. WATTPoultry.com. https://www.wattagnet.com/poultry-meat/diseases-health/avian-influenza/news/15814953/poultry-farm-avian-flu-outbreaks-confirmed-in-11-european-states

Odegard, K. (2026, January 28). Washington outdoor cat dies after contracting avian influenza | Capital Press. Capital Press. https://capitalpress.com/2026/01/28/washington-outdoor-cat-dies-after-contracting-avian-influenza/

Yonhap. (2026, January 26). Imported eggs from US to be distributed later this week for price stabilization: ministry. Koreatimes.co.kr; The Korea Times. https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/economy/20260126/imported-eggs-from-us-to-be-distributed-later-this-week-for-price-stabilization-ministry