20 February 2026
Since the beginning of 2026, the state of Pennsylvania has been confronting one of the most severe waves of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in its history. The first two months of the year have been marked by a dramatic increase in morbidity and associated depopulation. From January through mid-February, more than 7.1 million birds have been culled statewide.
The H5N1 virus has affected multiple segments of the poultry industry, with the egg-laying sector sustaining the greatest losses:
• In Lancaster County, approximately 2.6 million laying hens were culled at one large commercial facility, with an additional 1.5 million at a second site. As of mid-February, more than 7 million layers have been depopulated statewide since the start of the year.
• Several outbreaks have been confirmed in commercial turkey operations.
• The broiler, pullet, and breeder sectors have also been impacted.
Pennsylvania remains the only U.S. state to operate a dedicated financial support fund for poultry growers. To date, the fund has assisted 300 affected businesses, aiming to preserve the stability of an industry valued at approximately $7.1 billion.
