Avian influenza, also known as the bird flu, is caused by influenza viruses that spread between birds. According to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, bird flu is common in wild birds, especially waterfowl, shorebirds and raptors.

Over 2.8 million egg laying hens have been killed after a bird flu outbreak in Jackson County. It’s the largest appearance in Indiana of the infectious agent avian influenza since the strain was first spotted in 2022. Seymour based Rose Acre Farms confirmed the outbreak to Hoosier Ag Today in a statement:

The second largest egg producer in the U.S. said its farm in Seymour, Indiana, tested positive for the avian flu. Rose Acre Farms said its Cort Acre Egg Farm started noticing deaths over the weekend.

SEYMOUR, Ind. — One of the largest egg producers in the United States has confirmed cases of bird flu at one of their Indiana facilities, according to a statement released on Monday. Rose Acre Farms (RAF) has locations in seven states, but is headquartered in Seymour, Indiana.

Bird flu is now believed to be widespread in Massachusetts and is likely present even in places where there has not been a confirmed positive, state environmental and health officials said Wednesday.

State officials are working with partners to test suspected cases and collaborating with municipalities to safely dispose of dead birds." The post Bird flu now considered ‘widespread’ in Mass., officials say appeared first on Boston.

MORE: Long Island farm forced to euthanize more than 100,000 ducks after bird flu detected. There has been a history of intermittent bird flu outbreaks in Massachusetts since earl

The circulating bird flu has become “widespread” in the Bay State, as officials believe the virus has killed 500 to 1,000 wild birds across the region. And the total number of dead birds is likely “much higher than that,