Bird Flu Bulletin: Daily H5N1 Update
Saturday, January 10, 2026

This is your 3-minute Bird Flu Bulletin, bringing you the latest on the global H5N1 situation.

Top stories

First, in the United Kingdom, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs reports a new H5N1 outbreak confirmed yesterday in a small backyard flock near Grassington, North Yorkshire. A 3‑kilometer captive bird monitoring zone is now in place, and the affected birds are being culled. At the same time, a previous protection zone in Lincolnshire has been lifted after successful control measures, signaling progress in containing earlier clusters.

Second, global surveillance data compiled by Hong Kong’s Centre for Health Protection show new H5N1 detections in poultry and wild birds over the past 24 hours in several European countries, including Germany, Hungary, and Japan, compared with data up to January 8. These reports confirm that highly pathogenic H5N1 remains widely entrenched along migratory bird flyways, sustaining pressure on poultry sectors from Europe to Asia.

Third, U.S. authorities continue to report widespread H5 bird flu in wild birds and poultry, with sporadic infections in dairy cattle and a small number of exposed workers. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reiterates that the current public health risk to the general population remains low, but enhanced monitoring of farm workers and wastewater is ongoing.

Case numbers

According to the World Health Organization data compiled by Our World in Data, there have been only a handful of confirmed human H5N1 cases globally in recent months, with no clear increase since December 2025. Compared with yesterday, there are no newly confirmed human cases reported in official international tallies as of this afternoon. Most recent infections remain linked to close contact with sick birds or contaminated environments, not person‑to‑person spread.

New guidance

The UK government continues to advise bird keepers in higher‑risk zones to maintain strict biosecurity, including controlled housing of birds, disinfection of equipment, and prompt reporting of unexplained deaths. The CDC in the United States again urges people who work with poultry, wild birds, or dairy cattle to use personal protective equipment and to report flu‑like symptoms after animal exposure so they can be tested quickly.

Expert interview

For more context, we spoke with Dr. Ed Hutchinson, a virologist at the University of Glasgow, who recently discussed the global picture with Science Focus. He describes H5N1 in wild birds as “completely out of control” in animal populations, stressing that the virus is now a persistent global problem in wildlife. However, he emphasizes that the main concern is future mutation: if H5N1 adapts to spread efficiently between humans, the impact could be severe. For now, he notes, strong animal surveillance and rapid culling remain the front line of defense.

Looking ahead

In the next 24 hours, expect updated situation reports from European veterinary authorities detailing new farm‑level detections and zoning changes, as well as routine monitoring updates from the World Health Organization. Researchers will also continue sequencing recent H5N1 samples to watch for any genetic changes associated with increased human transmissibility or antiviral resistance.

That’s today’s Bird Flu Bulletin: Daily H5N1 Update. Thank you for tuning in, and come back next week for more. This has been a Quiet Please production, and for more from me check out QuietPlease dot A I.

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This is Bird Flu Bulletin: Daily H5N1 Update for Friday, January 9, 2026.

Top stories:

First, global animal outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 remain intense. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s latest situation update from late December reports more than 2,500 recent avian influenza outbreaks in animals across 43 countries, over 2,000 of them due to H5N1, underscoring sustained, widespread circulation in birds and some mammals worldwide.

Second, regional data from the Pan American Health Organization show that H5N1 continues to circulate across the Americas, with 75 human infections and two deaths reported since 2022, and more than 5,000 outbreaks in animals in 19 countries. PAHO notes that human cases remain rare and are linked to close contact with infected birds or mammals, but the ecological footprint of the virus has expanded substantially.

Third, concern among scientists is growing. The Global Center for Health Security at the University of Nebraska reports experts warning that the current H5N1 situation is “completely out of control” in wildlife and farm animals and could spark a human pandemic in 2026 if the virus acquires more efficient human-to-human transmission.

Now, today’s numbers:

According to the World Health Organization and regional partners, there have been no newly confirmed human H5N1 cases reported in the last 24 hours. The cumulative global total since 2003 remains just under 1,000 confirmed infections, with a case-fatality rate close to 50 percent. PAHO and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention both report that, in the Americas, the human case count is unchanged since the last update.

On the surveillance front, the CDC’s latest posting in early January 2026 indicates that at least 31,400 people with exposures to infected birds, dairy cattle, or other animals have been monitored, and at least 1,300 have been tested for novel influenza A viruses since the current North American H5N1 wave began in 2024. These monitoring totals are slightly higher than figures published at the end of December, reflecting ongoing follow-up of exposed workers but no jump in severe illness.

New guidance and statements:

PAHO, working with the World Organisation for Animal Health and the FAO, continues to urge countries to strengthen farm and wildlife surveillance, enforce strict biosecurity in poultry and dairy operations, and ensure consistent use of personal protective equipment for workers handling potentially infected animals or raw milk. Health authorities also emphasize early testing of anyone with respiratory, eye, or neurological symptoms after high-risk exposure.

Brief interview snippet:

Host: “Joining us is Dr. Elena Morales, an infectious disease specialist. Dr. Morales, what is your main message today?”

Dr. Morales: “The key point is that H5N1 is still primarily an animal health crisis, but the line between animal and human health is thin. People who work with birds or livestock should use masks, gloves, and eye protection, avoid contact with sick or dead animals, and seek medical care quickly if they develop flu-like symptoms. Vigilant surveillance now is our best chance to prevent wider human spread.”

Looking ahead:

In the next 24 hours, health agencies are expected to release updated situation reports on H5N1 detections in European poultry and in North American wildlife, and laboratories will continue genetic sequencing of recent animal isolates to watch for mutations associated with mammalian adaptation. Experts also anticipate further guidance on occupational protections for farm and processing-plant workers as calving and migration seasons evolve.

Thanks for tuning in to Bird Flu Bulletin: Daily H5N1 Update. Come back next week for more. This has been a Quiet Please production. For me, check out QuietPlease dot A I.Show more...