RICHFIELD, UTAH — State officials in Utah confirmed that a large, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak recently occurred in a commercial poultry flock in Cache County.

Details from a Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) spokesperson said that 1.8 million hens were involved in the outbreak.

“Our State Veterinarian’s office was notified of symptomatic birds in Cache County and our team was immediately dispatched to assess the situation,” said Daniel Christensen, DVM, the Utah State Veterinarian. “Proper steps are being taken to prevent further spread of the disease.”

UDAF noted that it is working closely with the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) in the response to the incident. The officials confirmed that the area where the birds were located was quarantined, and infected birds would be depopulated to prevent HPAI spread.

“Poultry owners should vigilantly watch their flocks for symptoms of HPAI, which include high death loss among flocks, nasal discharge, decreased appetite or water consumption, and lack of coordination in birds,” the state agency said.

Data from the APHIS website showed that the state of Utah has not had a large commercial flock outbreak of HPAI since October 2023 in Sanpete County.