Bird Flu Update: US H5N1 News Now
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Host: Good evening, and welcome to Bird Flu Update: US H5N1 News Now. I'm your host, bringing you the latest on highly pathogenic avian influenza in the United States. CDC reports 71 confirmed human H5 cases since early 2024, with the most recent on November 15, 2025, confirmed as H5N5 by CDC sequencing on November 20, according to WHO. This marks the first human case since February 2025, linked to animal exposure with no person-to-person spread detected.
In animals, USDA confirmed Wisconsin's first dairy cattle H5N1 case on December 15, 2025, in Dodge County, per DATCP and DTN Progressive Farmer. Texas reported its first 2025 commercial poultry flock outbreak in Shelby County on December 11, with quarantine and surveillance underway, as stated by Texas A&M Veterinary Lab and state officials. HPAI persists in wild birds nationwide, per USDA APHIS updates through December 9.
From the past week, CDC's FluView for week 49, ending December 6, shows no new human H5 infections, with routine surveillance indicating low public risk and no unusual flu activity through November 29. USDA continues raw milk testing mandates from December 2024, now expanded to silos at dairy facilities amid over 700 affected herds.
No major changes to CDC or USDA guidance this week; pasteurization remains effective against H5N1 in milk, confirmed by FDA's retail surveys showing no viable virus in 167 samples as of August 2024, with ongoing thermal inactivation research at Cornell and partners.
Research highlights include FDA-funded studies on H5N1 viability in cheese and raw milk waste disposal, plus genome-edited chickens for resistance, per FDA updates.
For listeners: Risk to the general public stays low per CDC. If you work with poultry, dairy cows, or backyard flocks, wear PPE, monitor for symptoms like conjunctivitis or respiratory issues, and report sick animals. Avoid raw milk; pasteurized products are safe. No need for broad public changes.
Compared to prior weeks: Human cases flat since February's three—Nevada dairy, Ohio poultry, Wyoming backyard—per CDC February 24 update. Animal detections continue steadily, unlike surges earlier in 2025, with Wisconsin and Texas as fresh hotspots versus quieter mid-year.
Stay vigilant, but no cause for alarm. Thank you for tuning in. Come back next week for more. This has been a Quiet Please production. For me, check out Quiet Please Dot A I.
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