This is Bird Flu Bulletin: Daily H5N1 Update. Today is Wednesday, November 5, 2025.
Top stories
First, the UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs announced two new highly pathogenic H5N1 outbreaks confirmed in commercial poultry units in England within the last 24 hours. One site is near Wells-Next-The-Sea, North Norfolk, and the other in Thirsk, North Yorkshire. Both areas now have strict 3 km protection and 10 km surveillance zones and are undergoing immediate culls of all poultry to contain further spread. According to the government, this brings the UK’s total for the current outbreak season to 24 confirmed cases: 20 in England, 3 in Wales, and 1 in Northern Ireland.
Second, the United States continues to monitor H5N1 after Nebraska and two other Midwestern states reported new outbreaks in poultry. Public health vigilance is high, but officials emphasize that so far, most human cases have been mild or asymptomatic. According to the CDC, the total number of confirmed and probable human H5N1 cases since 2024 in the US stands at 70. The numbers are up by one compared to yesterday, with California and Washington seeing the highest human case counts, primarily associated with dairy herds and farm operations.
Third, today the UK government announced that mandatory housing measures for poultry will be extended across England starting midnight tomorrow. All bird keepers must keep poultry indoors to limit exposure after evidence of environmental virus spread. This measure aims to control further outbreaks and is seen as critical for breaking the transmission chain.
Case numbers
Compared to yesterday, confirmed H5N1 poultry cases in the UK rose by two, and the US added one probable human case, reflecting ongoing risks and the rapid response required to protect both agriculture and public health.
New guidance and statements
The UK Chief Veterinary Officer issued a statement reminding bird keepers of the urgency of adhering to the new housing order. The CDC in the US reiterated that while most human H5N1 cases have been mild, the virus’s detection in mammals and high viral loads in raw milk mean strict biosecurity and surveillance are vital for those working with livestock and poultry.
Expert interview
We spoke briefly with Dr. Angela Bright, infectious disease specialist: “This outbreak season is showing us that while H5N1’s risk to the general public remains low, gaps are appearing in our surveillance, especially since many human infections can be mild or asymptomatic. Continued strict measures on farms and at national borders are key to slowing spread.”
Looking ahead
Tomorrow, the UK’s poultry industry will adapt to the new mandatory housing rules. Authorities expect to complete culls at the latest two affected sites and will closely track for further spread within surveillance zones. US health officials are expected to release updated guidance for dairy workers after new evidence of asymptomatic infection surfaced this week. Globally, researchers are sharpening efforts to monitor animal-to-human and possible limited human-to-human spread.
Thank you for tuning in to Bird Flu Bulletin: Daily H5N1 Update. Come back next week for more on this evolving story. This has been a Quiet Please production, and for more from me, check out QuietPlease dot AI.
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