Scientists confirmed a backyard flock of poultry in northwestern Tennessee was infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), part of a resurgence of the disease in the central states. Some 3.37 million birds in domestic flocks have died of bird flu so far this month; nationwide losses during September will be the largest since April.
Tennessee was the fortieth state where HPAI was discovered since outbreaks began in February. The USDA did not say how many birds were in the backyard flock in Obion County, where the disease was identified. They will be killed as a precaution to prevent the spread of the virus.
According to USDA, 26 outbreaks of HPAI have been reported this month. The largest was at an egg farm with 3 million hens in Ohio. Bird flu has was reported at seven turkey farms in Minnesota with a total of 289,900 birds.
Nationwide, 44.12 million birds in domestic flocks have died or been culled due to HPAI this year, making it the worst outbreak since the 2014-15 epidemic that killed 50 million birds.