The H5N1 avian influenza outbreak that has been devastating U.S. poultry flocks since 2022 continues in 2026, with the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service confirming H5N1 HPAI detections in commercial poultry flocks across 12 states as of the latest update in June 2026. The affected flocks span laying hen operations, broiler chicken facilities, and turkey farms across the Midwest and South — regions that are critical to the egg and poultry supply for large Texas cities including Dallas, Fort Worth, and Houston. Each new detection triggers mandatory depopulation of the affected flock, adding to a cumulative toll of more than 100 million birds killed since the current outbreak cycle began.
For Dallas–Fort Worth residents, the practical impact is already visible: egg prices at major retailers have been elevated since late 2024, and supply disruptions — though not shortages — have affected certain poultry products episodically. The USDA's Economic Research Service tracks the consumer price impact of avian influenza outbreaks and has documented that large-scale flock depopulations translate into retail egg price increases within 6 to 8 weeks of the outbreak events. With multiple new detections confirmed in June 2026, further price pressure on eggs and poultry products is likely heading into summer.
