Bird Flu Update: US H5N1 News Now

This is Quiet Please, and you’re listening to Bird Flu Update: US H5N1 News Now. It’s Saturday, November 15, 2025. Here are the latest developments on avian influenza, also known as H5N1 bird flu, in the United States.

Let’s start with the current situation. According to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there have been no new confirmed human cases of influenza A(H5N1) reported this week. Importantly, human-to-human transmission still has not been documented in the US, which means the risk of widespread human infection remains low at this time. CDC surveillance continues to report an uptick in respiratory specimens positive for flu viruses, but none have been identified as H5N1 in the past week.

On the animal side, the United States Department of Agriculture data show that H5N1 detections are ongoing in poultry flocks across several regions. The latest reports include a confirmed outbreak in a backyard flock in Sonoma County, California just last week, as announced by the California Department of Food and Agriculture. Cases continue to appear in commercial and backyard settings in states like California, Arkansas, and Idaho, where the USDA noted detections in non-poultry birds, indicating the virus remains active in both wild and domestic birds. In Utah, highly pathogenic avian influenza was confirmed in wild birds in Davis and Salt Lake counties as recently as November 7.

CDC has also reaffirmed that their monthly updated figures now count a total of 71 human cases of H5N1 in the US since 2024, most occurring among dairy workers and poultry farm staff. Louisiana saw the first US death related to H5N1. However, there have been no new deaths associated with influenza A viruses or pediatric deaths this season according to the latest CDC surveillance.

Turning to official guidance, the CDC and USDA have not issued major changes to containment measures in the past week. Routine monitoring, flock quarantines, and biosecurity protocols remain in place for affected farms. State-level alerts continue, including expanded milk testing strategies as reported by Wisconsin’s Department of Agriculture in November. The agencies remind farm workers and those in close contact with poultry or dairy cattle to follow all recommended precautionary measures, such as wearing protective equipment and reporting any respiratory symptoms to health authorities.

In research, recent findings from institutions like UC Davis and Gavi highlight concerns about potential asymptomatic infections. These studies suggest that H5N1 may be quietly circulating in wild and domestic bird populations and even in cattle, which could complicate detection and containment efforts. The virus’s genetic diversity is being monitored closely, with no significant changes reported in susceptibility to standard antiviral treatments.

For listeners, what does all this mean? For the general public, the immediate risk of H5N1 bird flu infection remains very low. Most human cases have involved people with repeated direct contact with infected animals, not the wider public. Still, officials recommend avoiding contact with sick or dead wild birds, and not handling suspicious poultry. Consumers can continue to buy poultry and dairy products as usual, as the food supply is considered safe due to strict screening and processing standards.

Comparing this week to previous weeks, flu activity overall is rising as the season progresses, but H5N1 activity remains restricted primarily to animal populations and hasn’t spread among humans. Health officials remain vigilant for any change in patterns and advise continued awareness, especially among those working in agriculture.

That wraps up today’s Bird Flu Update: US H5N1 News Now. Thank you for tuning in. Be sure to come back next week for more updates. This has been a Quiet Please...