US Finds Fewer Cases of Avian Flu in Wild Birds, Good Sign for Poultry

CHICAGO—The U.S. is detecting fewer cases of avian flu in wild birds that transmit the virus to poultry flocks, the agriculture department said, a potentially positive development for farmers and consumers after a two-year outbreak. A top official warned that risks remain high, though, and urged farmers to maintain stringent safety and cleaning protocols to protect flocks. Record infections on poultry farms drove egg and turkey prices to all-time highs in 2022, raising costs for inflation-hit shoppers. “We certainly don’t want producers to drop their guard. But the viral load in the environment is less,” Rosemary Sifford, chief veterinary officer for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, said in an interview....