Ottawa County Faces Major Avian Influenza Outbreak

News Summary

Ottawa County, Michigan, is grappling with a significant outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a commercial turkey flock of 30,000 birds. This outbreak, confirmed on October 7, 2025, marks the third case this year, with a cumulative loss of roughly 344,100 birds impacting the local poultry industry. The USDA reports HPAI outbreaks affecting flocks nationwide, with heightened biosecurity measures mandated to prevent further spread of the virus among poultry operations.

Ottawa County in Michigan is facing a significant outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) which has been confirmed by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. The outbreak was detected on October 7, 2025, in a commercial turkey flock consisting of 30,000 birds.

This incident marks the third case of HPAI in Ottawa County this year, with increasing reports of infection among commercial poultry operations throughout the Midwest since early September 2025. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), 22 commercial flocks have tested positive for HPAI in the last 30 days, impacting approximately 4.3 million birds across the nation.

Impact on Local Poultry Industry

Prior to this recent outbreak, Ottawa County had already experienced significant HPAI infections, with earlier detections in January that involved flocks of 55,200 and 47,000 turkeys. In addition, on December 31, 2024, two more turkey flocks in the same area were also affected. In total, the recent outbreaks have resulted in the loss of approximately one-quarter of the commercial turkeys produced in Ottawa County, which is responsible for 70% of Michigan’s turkey output. Cumulatively, 344,100 birds have been affected across these six outbreaks in the county.

Broader National Context

The current HPAI outbreak is part of a larger trend affecting poultry farms across the United States. The USDA notes that this series of outbreaks has made HPAI the deadliest in U.S. history, impacting around 130 million birds nationwide. In addition to Michigan, a commercial turkey flock in Sanpete County, Utah, was reported infected with HPAI on October 1, affecting 8,700 birds.

Transmission and Public Health Measures

HPAI can spread through direct contact with infected wild birds or indirectly via contaminated equipment and the clothing of caretakers. Although the public health risk from avian influenza remains low as per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Michigan officials are urging local farmers to enhance biosecurity measures to prevent further spread of the virus.

To mitigate the risk of infection, the Michigan Department of Agriculture is advising poultry owners to implement precautionary measures, including monitoring flocks for sudden illnesses and reporting any unusual bird deaths to authorities. Additionally, keeping domestic birds indoors is advised to reduce contact with wild birds that may carry the virus.

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

• Brownfield Ag News
• Wikipedia: Avian Influenza
• WattAgNet
• Google Search: Avian Influenza Michigan
• MLive
• Google Scholar: Avian Influenza
• Fox17 Online
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Avian Influenza
• Fox2 Detroit
• Google News: Avian Influenza Outbreak Michigan