WASHINGTON — Several more states have been impacted by highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the midst of the holiday season, including outbreaks in Ohio and California that each affected over 1 million egg laying hens.

On Dec. 24, the US Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) reported outbreaks across four states — California, Missouri, Oklahoma and Vermont.

Within California, a flock in Riverside County experienced the greatest loss in birds, with 1.11 million birds affected. San Joaquin County, Calif., also detected HPAI in a commercial egg laying flock, affecting 627,800 birds.

Meanwhile, Adair County, Okla., reported two separate outbreaks among commercial turkey flocks, impacting a total of 130,000 birds.

Cass County and Dade County, Mo., as well as Franklin County, Vt., found HPAI among non-poultry flocks.

A few days later, on Dec. 27, four states once again reported outbreaks. The largest flock affected this time was located in Darke County, Ohio, with 1 million egg laying hens culled.

Sacramento County, Calif., reported 153,800 broilers impacted by the disease. A commercial turkey flock in Ottawa County, Mich., was also hit with HPAI, impacting 113,200 birds.

The fourth state that detected HPAI that day was Missouri, reporting a non-poultry flock in Pemiscot County testing positive for the disease.

Since the onset of the HPAI outbreak in February 2022, 128.91 million birds have been affected, according to APHIS.