Crawford County commercial egg farm quarantined after highly pathogenic avian influenza detection

Nearly 50,000 birds affected as state activates control zones spanning three Indiana counties, marking latest case in ongoing national animal health emergency.

A commercial egg-laying operation in Crawford County with 49,727 birds is under quarantine after testing positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza, state officials announced 27 February 2026.

The detection triggered active control and surveillance zones spanning portions of Crawford, Dubois, and Perry counties in Indiana. A 10-kilometer control area affects portions of Crawford and Dubois counties, while a 20-kilometer surveillance zone extends into Perry County.

The H5N1 influenza virus continues to be active throughout parts of the United States, with HPAI identified on more than 2,000 premises in all 50 states since February 2022. Wild birds infected with HPAI have been found from coast to coast across various species, including waterfowl such as ducks, swans, geese, and gulls, raptors such as hawks and eagles, and other common species like American robins, common ravens, and wild turkeys.

Other mammalian species, including humans (though rare), dairy cattle and wildlife, have also been diagnosed with the virus. The current, ongoing HPAI event is the United States’ largest animal health emergency in history.

Federal and state partners are working jointly on additional surveillance and testing in areas around the affected flocks as part of existing avian influenza response plans. The United States has the strongest avian influenza surveillance program in the world, and USDA is actively working with its partners to look for the disease in commercial poultry operations, live bird markets and in migratory wild bird populations.

BOAH staff will reach out to flock owners within surveillance zones to offer testing of nearby flocks to verify the virus has not spread in the area. USDA Wildlife Services and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources are assisting with surveillance of wild birds in and near the control areas.

Indiana Grade A dairy farms in control areas will be tested for HPAI. Lactating dairy cattle must have a negative test before interstate movement under a federal order, and USDA has expanded surveillance through testing milk at the farm or processor level to establish the health status of herds and states.

State officials emphasize that avian influenza does not present a food safety risk, and cooked poultry and eggs and pasteurized dairy products are safe to eat.

Hobby poultry owners are encouraged to be aware of the signs of avian influenza and report illness and death to the USDA Healthy Birds Hotline at 866-536-7593. Callers will be routed to a state or federal veterinarian in Indiana for a case assessment, and dead birds should be double-bagged and refrigerated for possible testing.

Signs of avian influenza include sudden death without clinical signs, lack of energy or appetite, decreased egg production, soft-shelled or misshapen eggs, and swelling or purple discoloration of head, eyelids, comb and hocks. Other symptoms include nasal discharge, coughing, sneezing, lack of coordination and diarrhea.

Recent detections of highly pathogenic avian influenza A H5N1 viruses in wild birds and poultry pose a low risk to the health of the general public. Human infections are most likely to be rare and happen in people with recreational or occupational exposures involving prolonged, unprotected close contact with infected birds or contaminated environments.

The Indiana Department of Health and local health departments monitor people who have been exposed to test-positive animals for signs of influenza-like illness. To date, none have had evidence of infection or illness associated with AI virus.

IDOH offers guidance documents for poultry growers and emergency responders to protect their health, and community members affected by this animal health emergency should be aware of the possible impact on their mental health and seek assistance if needed.

Available mental health resources include Be Well Indiana, a free, confidential resource available 24/7 to anyone in the state of Indiana. Residents can call 2-1-1, enter their ZIP code, follow the prompts and select number 3 for the Be Well Crisis Helpline.

Farm Aid connects farmers with helpful services, resources and opportunities specific to their individual needs. The Farmer Hotline provides immediate assistance Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern time at 1-800-FARM-AID.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, as well as prevention and crisis resources. People can dial 9-8-8 or call 1-800-273-TALK.

Situation updates and status reports on ongoing avian influenza activities, along with critical disease-related information, are posted on the BOAH website. Users may subscribe to email and text updates through a subscribe link on that page.

For details, including updated data and total premises affected since the ongoing incident began in 2022, the HPAI dashboard is available on BOAH’s website. More information about avian influenza and wild birds is available through the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.