# USDA: Environmental spread, multiple entries likely fueled US H7N9 outbreaks | CIDRAP

> A USDA APHIS investigation found that low-pathogenic H7N9 avian flu circulated in US poultry before mutating into a highly pathogenic strain in the spring outbreaks in four southeastern states. The 44-page report concludes the virus was likely introduced multiple times and that environmental spread played a larger role than farm practices.

- Date: 2017-06-23 · published 2017-06-23T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: disease · region US · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/70381-usda-environmental-spread-multiple-entries-likely-fueled-us-h7n9-outbreaks
- Commodities: [Lean Hogs](https://feedsoft.ai/c/HOGS.md), [Chicken](https://feedsoft.ai/c/CHICKEN.md), [Soybean Meal](https://feedsoft.ai/c/SBM.md)

## Why it matters

The findings support existing biosecurity measures and do not signal a new supply shock, so the direct effect on poultry and feed prices is limited.

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| HOGS | 2018-02-07 | [High-path avian flu outbreaks reported in Mideast, Asia, Europe \| CIDRAP](https://feedsoft.ai/events/66396-high-path-avian-flu-outbreaks-reported-in-mideast-asia-europe-cidrap.md) | -1.3% | -7.9% |
| HOGS | 2025-03-24 | [UK reports H5N1 in a sheep on poultry-outbreak farm \| CIDRAP](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16018-uk-reports-h5n1-in-a-sheep-on-poultry-outbreak-farm-cidrap.md) | +0.3% | +1.2% |
| HOGS | 2025-09-29 | [Poland Battles Multiple Farm Animal Disease Outbreaks in September 2025 \| MeatBorsa News](https://feedsoft.ai/events/15966-poland-battles-multiple-farm-animal-disease-outbreaks-in-september-2025.md) | -2.4% | -15.1% |
| HOGS | 2024-07-15 | [US swine and poultry industries use certification programs to prepare for disease outbreaks
						 \| The Poultry Site](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16081-us-swine-and-poultry-industries-use-certification-programs-to-prepare-for.md) | +2.8% | +2.3% |
| HOGS | 2016-12-20 | [Chinese farmers bolster bird flu defenses as Asia outbreaks, and jitters, spread](https://feedsoft.ai/events/73373-chinese-farmers-bolster-bird-flu-defenses-as-asia-outbreaks-and-jitters-spread.md) | -0.8% | +4.6% |
| SBM | 2018-02-07 | [High-path avian flu outbreaks reported in Mideast, Asia, Europe \| CIDRAP](https://feedsoft.ai/events/66396-high-path-avian-flu-outbreaks-reported-in-mideast-asia-europe-cidrap.md) | +10.1% | +14.6% |
| SBM | 2025-03-24 | [UK reports H5N1 in a sheep on poultry-outbreak farm \| CIDRAP](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16018-uk-reports-h5n1-in-a-sheep-on-poultry-outbreak-farm-cidrap.md) | -1.7% | -1.1% |
| SBM | 2020-02-28 | [China's soy complex demand likely to fall in H1 2020 on coronavirus outbreak: Rabobank \| S&P Global](https://feedsoft.ai/events/10636-china-s-soy-complex-demand-likely-to-fall-in-h1-2020-on-coronavirus-outbreak.md) | +1.2% | +8.8% |

## Sources

- cidrap.umn.edu: https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/avian-influenza-bird-flu/usda-environmental-spread-multiple-entries-likely-fueled-us-h7n9-outbreaks

---
Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.