INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A commercial flock of 23,700 egg-laying hens in Kosciusko County has been quarantined following the detection of avian influenza, the Indiana State Board of Animal Health revealed Wednesday night. As a result, control and surveillance zones cover parts of the northern Indiana county and extend into parts of adjacent Marshall and Fulton counties. Across the state so far this year, avian flu has hit at least 26 poultry farms and small flocks affecting more than 8.3 million birds, according to a tally of flocks for 2025 on the state’s dashboard. Jay County in east central Indiana has had 11 farms affected. At many of the farms in Indiana, the birds either died or were killed to prevent the spread of the virus known as H5N1. Species have included chickens, ducks and turkeys. For consumers, the bird flu has meant stores without eggs, and price increases. Eggs costs hit a record high in February, up nearly 60% from a year earlier, according to an analysis of the consumer price index. Eggs are typically at their highest cost around Easter, which is April 20 this year, because cooks use them for family gatherings, and kids decorate them for the holiday. Indiana ranks as a leading producer of poultry and eggs, being the top producer of ducks, and third in egg and turkey production nationally. The Indiana State Board of Animal Health advises that avian influenza does not pose a food safety risk, and cooked poultry, eggs, and pasteurized dairy products remain safe to consume. The H5N1 virus has been identified in all 50 states since February 2022. Beyond poultry farms and small flocks, the virus has also been found in species of wild birds, and also in mammals, including humans, dairy cattle, and wildlife. The first bird flu death of a human in the United States was reported this year in January in Louisiana. Hobby poultry owners are encouraged to report signs of avian influenza to the U.S. Department of Agricultural Healthy Birds Hotline, 866-536-7593. The Indiana Department of Health monitors people exposed to test-positive animals for signs of influenza-like illness, though federal health officials believe the risk to people is considered low. No human infections have been reported in Indiana related to the 2025 outbreak. ...read more read less