In the aftermath of a 2025 avian influenza outbreak that forced the culling of tens of millions of birds and strained the American egg supply, researchers at Texas A&M are turning to an unusual ally: light itself. Far-UVC radiation, a wavelength too shallow to damage living skin or eyes, is being tested inside commercial poultry houses as a potential tool against a virus that conventional defenses have struggled to contain. The effort reflects a broader human search for solutions that protect life without the costs — biological and economic — of the methods we have long relied upon.
Texas A&M tests far-UVC light as potential shield against avian flu on farms
Tens of millions of poultry birds were culled during the 2025 HPAI outbreak, causing significant economic losses to farmers and supply chain disruption.