As fall begins, wild migratory birds are starting their seasonal migration. That has the industry and government officials worried about the potential spread, again, of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Some members of Congress have called for the United States to be prepared for a potential surge in cases this fall. HPAI has been a problem since 2022. Since the HPAI outbreak began in 2022, 207.8 million birds have been depopulated through 28 September 2026. Commercial layers have been the hardest hit, with 162.3 million birds depopulated, accounting for about 78 percent of the total. That led to record egg prices. There is no treatment for HPAI in poultry. Once the virus is detected in a flock, the facility is placed under quaranti...