WASHINGTON — The number of birds affected by the current wave of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) continues its steady rise, significantly bolstered by an outbreak in Ohio affecting over 1 million birds.

On Nov. 21, Union County, Ohio, detected HPAI in a commercial table egg layer flock. According to data from the US Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), 1.35 million birds were culled as a result.

Other major outbreaks reported that day included one in Caroline County, Md., three in Minnesota counties and four more across South Dakota.

In Maryland, nearly 200,000 birds were affected from the virus’s presence in a commercial broiler production flock in Caroline County.

Minnesota reported HPAI cases in Big Stone County, Brown County and Kandiyohi County. All detections were found in commercial turkey flocks, affecting a total of 92,800 turkeys.

Likewise, the reports of HPAI in South Dakota flocks were all linked to commercial turkey flocks, specifically turkey meat birds. Clark County, SD, reported two different outbreaks, while Beadle County and Kingsbury also reported an outbreak. Together almost 176,000 birds were affected.

On Nov. 22, four more cases were reported, including another one in South Dakota, two in Minnesota and one in Wisconsin.

South Dakota added to its numbers from yesterday, with another outbreak in a commercial turkey flock, this time occurring in Brule County. A total of 45,000 birds were culled due to the HPAI detection.

Minnesota also added to its numbers with two more outbreaks, one in Otter Tail County and another in Stearns County. Together nearly 63,000 birds were culled from commercial turkey flocks.

The largest flock affected on Nov. 22 was a commercial turkey flock in Trempealeau County, Wis., with 70,000 birds culled.

Currently, the total number of affected birds since the HPAI wave began sits at 65.9 million.