Wisconsin egg production fell 57% after major HPAI losses, while Idaho reported a renewed dairy surge with 70 to 80 farms under quarantine. A Rhode Island live bird market euthanized 445 birds after routine testing detected avian flu, and new research found that as few as 10 H5N1 viral particles can infect dairy cows through the teat. Internationally, Türkiye’s egg exports surged as European buyers sought supply stability, while Sweden reported Europe’s only recent commercial poultry outbreak.
Wisconsin Egg Production Falls 57% After Major HPAI Losses
Wisconsin egg production fell to 91.7 million eggs in April, down 57% from the same month in 2025, according to United States Department of Agriculture data. The decline reflects a sharp reduction in the state’s laying hen inventory, which fell from 8.3 million birds in April 2025 to 3.69 million in April 2026. Wisconsin’s layer numbers dropped after Daybreak Foods’ Jefferson County farm culled more than 3 million birds last fall, then fell again in March after three farms with more than 1 million birds each were forced to depopulate because of avian flu. Recovery is expected to take time because producers must cull infected flocks, compost dead birds, sanitize facilities, and wait for replacement pullets. University of Wisconsin-Madison poultry specialist Ron Kean said rebuilding a lost layer flock can take close to two years because new laying hens are limited. The production decline comes as national egg supply has begun to recover and prices have fallen, leaving producers exposed to lower revenues while feed, fuel, and production costs remain elevated (Kirwan, 2026).
Idaho Dairy H5N1 Surge Puts 70 to 80 Farms Under Quarantine
Idaho reported 32 new confirmed bird flu cases in livestock herds over the 30 days ending June 10, all on dairies, according to United States Department of Agriculture data. One additional dairy case was detected on June 15 (United States Department of Agriculture, n.d.). The state has recorded 163 livestock cases since H5N1 was first detected in U.S. dairy cattle in March 2024, with all but one occurring on dairies. Nationally, USDA has reported more than 1,100 cattle cases across 20 states since the dairy outbreak began. Between 70 and 80 Idaho dairies were under quarantine as of June 11, the state’s highest affected-farm count in a year. Idaho State Veterinarian Scott Leibsle said the state is working to limit off-farm spread while maintaining business continuity where possible. Lactating cattle on affected premises are quarantined after confirmed testing, while producers and veterinarians develop herd surveillance strategies. State officials said pasteurized milk from affected cows does not pose a human health concern (Carlson, 2026).
Rhode Island Market Euthanizes 445 Birds After Routine HPAI Detection
Rhode Island officials euthanized 445 birds at Antonelli Poultry, a live bird market in Providence, after avian flu was detected during routine quarterly testing. The Rhode Island Department of Health and Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management said the birds were asymptomatic, but the market must remain closed until five days after disposal is completed and the facility has been fully cleaned and sanitized. State health officials are monitoring Antonelli Poultry staff for 10 days because of potential exposure to avian influenza. The detection highlights the continued risk of HPAI in live bird market settings, where routine surveillance, rapid depopulation, sanitation, and worker monitoring remain central to limiting spread. Officials also reminded the public to avoid contact with sick or dead birds and to follow proper poultry handling and cooking practices (De Angelis, 2026).
Türkiye Egg Exports Surge as European Buyers Seek HPAI-Stable Supply
Türkiye exported 92,494 tons of eggs worth $240.1 million between January and May, with demand from Europe rising sharply as avian influenza disrupted production in key egg-producing countries. Italy increased egg imports from Türkiye from $2.2 million in the first five months of 2025 to $24.8 million this year, while shipment volumes rose from 1,200 tons to 13,200 tons. Poland’s imports rose even more dramatically, from $109,000 to $19.7 million, with shipment volumes increasing from 15 tons to roughly 11,000 tons. Poland’s HPAI outbreaks have recently forced the culling of more than 4 million birds, tightening domestic supply and export capacity. Neriman Dere Catmadas, head of the Izmir Egg Producers Association, said Türkiye’s strict biosecurity measures, production standards, and animal health oversight have helped make the country a preferred supplier for Italy, Poland, and the United States as buyers look for reliable egg supply during ongoing avian flu disruptions (Turkiye Today, 2026).
Study Finds Low H5N1 Dose Can Infect Dairy Cows
Ohio State University researchers found that as few as 10 H5N1 viral particles can infect dairy cows when introduced into the teat, reinforcing the mammary gland’s central role in the current dairy cattle outbreak. The study, published in Nature Communications, found that infected cows produced milk with high viral concentrations for more than a week, even at low infectious doses. Researchers said the findings mark a major shift in understanding H5N1 in cattle because infection appears centered in the mammary gland rather than the respiratory tract. The study did not confirm several suspected transmission routes. Experiments involving contaminated milking equipment, bottle-feeding calves high-virus milk, intranasal exposure, and shared indoor air between cattle and chickens did not show clear disease spread. Researchers said milking equipment remains a likely route because it moves high-risk material between high-risk tissue, but evidence-based recommendations for stopping cow-to-cow transmission remain limited (Medical & Life Sciences News, 2026).
Sweden Reports Europe’s Only Recent Commercial Poultry HPAI Outbreak
Sweden was the only European country to report a new highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak in commercial poultry over the past two weeks. The H5N1 outbreak occurred at a farm in Helsingborg, in Skåne county in southwestern Sweden, where mallard ducks were kept for game restocking and breeding. Around 1,000 of nearly 50,000 birds died after an initial spike in mortality was first attributed to heat stress. The source of infection remains unknown. Europe’s commercial poultry HPAI situation has otherwise remained stable. As of June 17, the European Commission’s Animal Disease Information System recorded 309 H5N1 outbreaks at farms across 16 countries in 2026, compared with 729 outbreaks across 23 countries during all of 2025. Poland has recorded the region’s highest 2026 commercial total at 143 outbreaks, followed by Germany with 39. Wild bird detections remain active in northern and western Europe, showing that H5N1 continues to circulate despite lower summer outbreak pressure (Linden, 2026).
References
Carlson, B. (2026, June 15). Idaho dairies get more bird flu cases | Capital Press. Capital Press. https://capitalpress.com/2026/06/15/idaho-dairies-get-more-bird-flu-cases/
De Angelis, G. (2026, June 13). 445 birds euthanized due to bird flu outbreak at Rhode Island market. WRGB. https://cbs6albany.com/news/nation-world/445-birds-euthanized-due-to-bird-flu-outbreak-at-rhode-island-market-antonelli-poultry-june-13-2026
Kirwan, H. (2026, June 15). Wisconsin egg production cut in half as farms struggle with avian flu, higher expenses. WPR. https://www.wpr.org/news/wisconsin-egg-production-cut-in-half-as-farms-struggle-with-avian-flu-higher-expenses
Linden, J. (2026, June 19). New avian flu cases in commercial poultry in one European state. WATTPoultry.com. https://www.wattagnet.com/poultry-meat/diseases-health/avian-influenza/news/15828015/new-avian-flu-cases-in-commercial-poultry-in-one-european-state
Medical & Life Sciences News. (2026, June 15). News-Medical. News-Medical. https://www.news-medical.net/news/20260615/Just-ten-viral-particles-can-infect-cows-with-bird-flu.aspx
Turkiye Today. (2026, June 13). Europe turns to Türkiye for eggs amid bird flu crisis - Türkiye Today. Türkiye Today. https://www.turkiyetoday.com/business/europe-turns-to-turkiye-for-eggs-amid-bird-flu-crisis-3221872
United States Department of Agriculture. (n.d.). HPAI Confirmed Cases in Livestock | Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Www.aphis.usda.gov. https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/hpai-confirmed-cases-livestock