Another Indiana Poultry Farm Tests Positive for Bird Flu

Over 900,000 birds lost since October due to the highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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The Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH) has reported that a commercial meat duck facility in Elkhart County with a flock size of 10,739 has tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). This marks the first detection of HPAI in Indiana since January 22. Since October 9, 2025, more than 900,000 birds have been depopulated on commercial poultry farms across Elkhart, LaGrange, and Noble counties, which represent one of the most densely-populated areas in the U.S. for poultry production.

Why it matters

The bird flu outbreak in northern Indiana has had a significant impact on the state's poultry industry, which is a major producer of ducks, eggs, and turkeys. The continued spread of HPAI raises concerns about the economic toll on farmers and the potential risk to the food supply, although federal officials have stated that cooked poultry, eggs, and dairy products remain safe to consume.

The details

The latest positive case was detected at a commercial meat duck facility in Elkhart County with a flock size of 10,739. This is the first detection of HPAI in Indiana since January 22. Since October 9, 2025, over 900,000 birds have been depopulated on commercial poultry farms across three counties in northern Indiana that are major poultry production hubs.

  • On October 9, 2025, the bird flu outbreak began in northern Indiana.
  • Since October 9, 2025, over 900,000 birds have been depopulated on commercial poultry farms.
  • On January 22, 2026, the last previous detection of HPAI in Indiana occurred.
  • On February 13, 2026, the latest positive case was detected at a commercial meat duck facility in Elkhart County.

The players

Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH)

The state agency responsible for monitoring and responding to animal health issues in Indiana.

USDA

The United States Department of Agriculture, which provides federal oversight and guidance on food safety and agricultural issues.

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What’s next

Federal and state officials will continue to monitor the situation and work with affected poultry farmers to contain the spread of the bird flu outbreak.

The takeaway

The ongoing bird flu outbreak in northern Indiana has had a devastating impact on the state's poultry industry, with over 900,000 birds depopulated since October. While the virus does not pose a risk to food safety, the continued spread of HPAI raises concerns about the economic toll on farmers and the potential disruption to the regional poultry supply.