A family-owned farm near Chicago has fallen victim to a devastating outbreak of bird flu, losing its entire flock of nearly 3,000 hens to the disease.
The owners of Kakadoodle Farm in Matteson first noticed something was wrong last week, when dozens of their flock began dying without symptoms. Initially attributing the deaths to cold weather, they later learned from federal officials that bird flu had been confirmed in their flock.
"Ever since Marty survived cancer, we've poured everything we have into Kakadoodle," a statement posted on the farm's website said. "With God, will [sic] survive this as well."
Why It Matters
Bird flu in the U.S. has been tearing through populations of wild birds, poultry, dairy herds and even people since 2022. So far, more than 100 million poultry birds have died or been culled following infections with the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of the virus.
As more and more animals become infected, spillover into humans is becoming increasingly common. While the virus is not yet thought to be transmitted from person to person, the U.S. reported its first human death linked to bird flu on January 6.
Experts warn that if the virus evolves to enable human-to-human transmission, it could trigger a pandemic.
What To Know
Last week, Kakadoodle owners MariKate and Marty Thomas noticed around 30 hens in their flock had died without warning, according to Chicago's WMAQ-TV.
The couple were initially assured by a local vet that the deaths were linked to the freezing temperatures sweeping across the region. However, following the deaths of hundreds more hens, officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirmed that the flock had bird flu.
The flock was likely infected when wild birds came into contact with the chicken feed used on the farm.
"The means we'll lose our entire flock," Kakadoodle Farm said in the statement.
Before the wipeout, the flock laid around 2,000 eggs per week, which the owners sold on their online marketplace.
The farm has been placed under quarantine for 150 days while the premises are sanitized and cleared. The couple wants to rebuild a new and improved house once the quarantine is lifted in June.
How Bad Is Bird Flu Across the U.S.?
The bird flu situation across the country is far from under control. According to the latest data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 67 people have so far been infected with the virus, along with 136 million poultry birds and 928 dairy herds.
All 51 states have reported infections since the outbreak began in 2022.
California, the state hit worst by outbreaks in cattle, declared a state of emergency in December 2024 in response to the outbreaks.
While the CDC maintains the risk to the public remains low, experts are increasingly raising concerns over the pandemic potential of the H5N1 virus.
"I'm afraid right now we're on track to having a serious human pandemic," Andrew deCoriolis, executive director of Farm Forward, an advocacy group focused on ending factory farming, previously told Newsweek.
Vaccinations for poultry have been deployed in some other countries with relative success. But they have not been implemented in the U.S. over fears they could harm the export market.
What People Are Saying
A USDA spokesperson previously told Newsweek: "We remain committed to using every tool in USDA's toolbox as we leave no stone unturned in the fight against H5N1.
"While vaccine research and development across species is an important part of our efforts, a national vaccination strategy includes challenges for domestic implementation, including the cost and logistics of an effective national strategy, the development of appropriate surveillance programs and minimizing potential trade ramifications," the spokesperson said.
Kakadoodle Farm said on its website: "Thank you all so much for the overwhelming support during this time. It truly means the world to us and reminds us how, together, we are building something truly special."
What Happens Next
For now, Kakadoodle Farm is trying to stay on its feet and rebuild for the future. A GoFundMe set up following the loss of its flock has already amassed $17,000 in donations.
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