Second Turkey Flock in Kent County, Michigan Infected as Lancaster County, PA Outbreak Spreads to Cecil County, Maryland

New HPAI cases reported across state lines, raising biosecurity concerns

Mar. 16, 2026 at 2:48pm

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The National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) has reported two new outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) over the weekend, with a second turkey flock infected in Kent County, Michigan and the Lancaster County, Pennsylvania outbreak spreading across state lines into Cecil County, Maryland. This comes as Indiana is also reporting five additional farms with suspected HPAI cases.

Why it matters

The spread of HPAI across state lines highlights the challenges in containing the virus, as biosecurity measures often fall short at political boundaries. The outbreak in the Mid-Atlantic region is particularly concerning, as it threatens to disrupt poultry production and potentially impact consumer prices and availability.

The details

The NVSL confirmed the new HPAI cases in Kent County, Michigan and Cecil County, Maryland, which borders the existing outbreak area in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. This indicates the virus is continuing to spread despite quarantine efforts, raising questions about the effectiveness of current biosecurity protocols. Indiana is also reporting five additional suspected HPAI cases, further exacerbating the situation.

  • The new HPAI outbreaks were reported by the NVSL on March 16, 2026.
  • The Lancaster County, Pennsylvania outbreak has been ongoing since earlier in 2026.

The players

National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL)

The NVSL is the national reference laboratory for animal health in the United States, responsible for confirming and reporting outbreaks of diseases like highly pathogenic avian influenza.

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What’s next

Authorities will likely focus on strengthening biosecurity measures and enforcing quarantine protocols to try to contain the spread of HPAI across state lines.

The takeaway

This outbreak highlights the challenges in controlling the spread of highly contagious animal diseases, especially when they cross political boundaries. Improved coordination and more robust biosecurity protocols may be necessary to prevent future outbreaks from escalating into regional crises.