Bird Flu Update: US H5N1 News Now

You’re listening to “Bird Flu Update: US H5N1 News Now.” I’m your host, and here’s where things stand with avian influenza in the United States.

Federal health officials say the overall public health risk from H5 bird flu remains low, but the virus continues to circulate in birds, some dairy cattle, and occasionally infects people. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there have been 71 confirmed human H5 infections in the U.S. since early 2024, including two deaths. The most recent fatal case, reported by the World Health Organization in November, involved an H5N5 strain in an adult in Washington State with underlying conditions and bird exposure. WHO and CDC both report no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission.

On the animal side, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service continues to confirm new highly pathogenic avian influenza detections in commercial and backyard flocks. USDA’s latest flock updates show new H5 outbreaks in multiple states across the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic, with hundreds of thousands of poultry affected over the past month. USDA has also reported a recent H5N1 detection in a Wisconsin dairy herd as a new spillover event from wild birds, genetically distinct from earlier cattle outbreaks in Nevada and Arizona, but officials emphasize the commercial milk supply remains safe due to pasteurization.

In wild birds, USDA surveillance is still picking up H5 detections along major migratory flyways, including recent positives in Colorado and Minnesota, underscoring that the virus remains entrenched in wildlife.

Within the past week, CDC’s flu and H5 monitoring updates indicate no unusual influenza patterns in people. CDC reports that more than 30,000 people have been monitored and over 1,200 tested after exposure to infected animals since 2024, with only sporadic H5 cases detected. CDC guidance continues to stress avoiding unprotected contact with sick or dead birds, poultry, dairy cattle, and their droppings, and recommends that exposed workers use appropriate personal protective equipment.

There have been no major shifts in national containment measures in the last few days, but USDA and state agriculture departments are maintaining strict movement controls and culling policies around infected flocks and herds. Some states, such as California, have declared their commercial poultry free of active H5N1 outbreaks while keeping ongoing surveillance of dairies and birds.

Researchers continue to study why certain H5N1 variants are better at infecting mammals. Recent academic analyses highlight that some 2.3.4.4b strains show increased ability to infect dairy cattle, but so far do not appear well adapted for efficient spread between people.

What does this mean for you? For most listeners, the immediate risk is still low. You should avoid handling sick or dead birds or livestock, and not consume raw milk or undercooked poultry or eggs. Routine, pasteurized dairy products in grocery stores remain safe. If you work with birds or cattle, follow your workplace safety protocols and contact public health authorities if you develop flu-like symptoms after an exposure.

Compared with previous weeks, the big picture has not dramatically changed: human cases remain rare and linked to animal exposures, while the virus continues to ebb and flow in poultry, wild birds, and a limited number of dairy herds. Surveillance remains high, but there is no sign yet of sustained spread among people.

Thanks for tuning in to “Bird Flu Update: US H5N1 News Now.” 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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