The Connecticut Department of Agriculture confirmed the presence of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1, commonly known as bird flu, in a flock of chickens, ducks and peacocks on Jan. 15. These birds were family pets and had been in close contact with wild waterfowl from a nearby pond, according to the release.

Avian flu is rampant in poultry farms and in wild birds in the U.S. Every mutation brings the virus one step closer to the brink of human-to-human transmission, but predicting whether a virus will cross that threshold remains an uncertain science.

Bird flu has wreaked havoc on the egg market. In November and December alone, 17.2 million egg-laying hens died as a result of the virus. That’s nearly half of all birds killed by the virus in 2024, according to the USDA. And it will take months to replace those flocks.

Bird flu was reported in Connecticut, according to the state Department of Agriculture and Department of Public Health.

Seven states lost more than 1 million birds to avian influenza during the past year, while two lost more than 10 million.

California, Minnesota, South Dakota Michigan and Iowa all reached double digits when it came to flocks infected.

The death comes at a time when the H5N1 virus has recently undergone an unusual mutation that is causing concern to the World Health Organization.

The first human death caused by H5N1 in the U.S. was reported in Louisiana on Jan. 6. Here's what to know about bird flu.

Bird flu is on the rise in Oregon and across the U.S, and Bend wildlife hospital Think Wild offered guidance Tuesday on how to safely navigate risks posed by the virus.

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in domestic birds in Puerto Rico has been reported. This marks the first instance of the virus in domestic birds in Puerto Rico since the onset of the outbreak in February 2022.

Officials find dangerous virus for first time in 2025 at pair of commercial poultry facilities. All birds will be killed.