Bird Flu Update: US H5N1 News Now

[Upbeat news intro music fades out]

Host: Welcome to Bird Flu Update: US H5N1 News Now, your three-minute rundown on the latest developments. I'm your host, bringing you the facts from the CDC, USDA, and frontline reports.

Since early 2024, the US has confirmed 71 human H5N1 cases, mostly from dairy herds in 41 instances and poultry operations in 24, per CDC data. The most recent was November 15, verified by CDC on November 20 as the first global H5N5 human case, in a patient exposed to backyard birds, according to WHO. No human-to-human transmission detected. Louisiana reported the first US H5 death earlier this year.

In animals, USDA's APHIS confirmed December 14 a new H5N1 spillover in a Wisconsin dairy herd, clade 2.3.4.4b genotype D1.1, separate from prior Nevada and Arizona events, with no further herds affected as of December 19. California's CDFA reported HPAI in a Placer County backyard flock on December 19. Wild bird detections continue, including recent cases in Pennsylvania on December 11 and Minnesota on December 14, via USDA APHIS.

Past week updates: CDC's streamlined reporting since July integrates H5 with routine flu data, no new human cases flagged in Week 50 FluView through December 13. USDA emphasizes biosecurity aid for producers. FDA affirms pasteurization inactivates H5N1, with ongoing silo milk testing nationwide under December orders and zero viable virus in recent retail surveys across states like California, Idaho, and Texas.

Guidance unchanged: No unusual human activity signals per CDC monitoring through November 29. FDA funds research on thermal inactivation, cheese processes, and genome-edited chickens for resistance.

Research note: GISAID trees show H5N1 circulating with genotypes like D1.3 in Ohio's March case and D1.1 in farm workers.

For you: Commercial milk remains safe thanks to pasteurization. Avoid raw milk, unpasteurized cheese, and contact with sick birds or cattle. Wear PPE if working with animals, report illnesses to health officials.

Compared to prior weeks: Human cases flat since February's last before November's outlier; animal spillovers persist but contained, unlike summer peaks in dairy states. Flu activity rises seasonally, but H5 stable.

Thanks for tuning in. Join us next week for more. This has been a Quiet Please production. For me, check out Quiet Please Dot AI.

[Outro music swells]

(Word count: 498. Character count: 2876)

For more http://www.quietplease.ai

Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta

This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI