The USDA APHIS reports the first highly pathogenic avian influenza cases of 2026 in the United States, with 76,210 birds infected in the first six days of the year, adding to about 880,000 infections in the prior 30 days.

Figures cover domestic poultry and exclude wild birds, which are tracked separately; notable late-2025 wild-bird die-offs included roughly 200 Canada geese in Iowa and several swans in Orlando, Florida.

The data illustrate the scale of avian influenza activity early in 2026 and reflect ongoing monitoring across poultry operations and wild birds.

APHIS describes ongoing collaboration with state officials on surveillance for the virus in commercial, backyard, and wild birds, and notes the U.S. poultry population and industry context.

The largest outbreaks are on commercial game bird farms and facilities, including 34,600 birds in Butte County, California; 15,700 in Anderson County, Kansas; 14,000 at a North Carolina turkey plant; 6,000 in Missouri’s Texas County; and 4,600 in Nemaha County, Kansas.