Virginia is having its worst bird flu spike yet
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.

Virginia is facing the worst bird flu spike since the nationwide outbreak started in 2022, USDA data shows.
Why it matters: It's wreaking havoc on farmers, exacerbating egg shortages and exposing gaps in government disease surveillance.
The big picture: The Commonwealth has the seventh highest number of birds in the U.S. affected by avian influenza, per confirmed reports from Jan. 4 to Feb. 3.
- In that timeframe, 441,000 birds have gotten sick in a commercial flock in Accomack.
- That's nearly 12 times greater than the number of birds affected statewide in all of 2023, per a USDA database.
Between the lines: It's only a 2% share of the infected birds nationwide. Ohio leads the nation with nearly 8.8 million birds affected.
Yes, but: The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources has gotten more reports of sick or dead wild birds on the Eastern Shore, reports the Washington Post.
- The Hunt Club Farm in Virginia Beach killed nearly 300 birds in January to stop the virus' spread, its owner told the Post.
- And at the Metro Richmond Zoo last month, two cranes died of bird flu for the first time in the zoo's history.
Plus, Aldi on Arthur Ashe has placed a "two carton" limit on the number of eggs customers can purchase. Trader Joe's and Costco have issued egg limits, too.
Threat level: Risk to the public remains extremely low, though "that does not mean it will stay that way," Nirav Shah, principal deputy director of the CDC, told Axios.
- It's also still safe to eat eggs, chicken and beef as long as they're cooked properly.
What we're watching: Earlier this month, all six of Virginia's Democratic congressional delegation urged CDC and Department of Agriculture leaders to keep publishing data regarding bird flu to keep the state updated.
- It was in response to President Trump limiting in recent weeks what public health information Americans can see.
- While CDC's weekly report covering outbreaks and public health information returned last week, it didn't mention the intensifying bird flu outbreak.
Go deeper:
