H5N1 BIRD FLU BRIEFING: PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT
Good afternoon. This is an official public health briefing on the current status of H5N1 avian influenza. The purpose of this briefing is to provide you with accurate, up-to-date information about the H5N1 situation, what it means for your health and safety, and what steps you should take to protect yourself and your community.
CURRENT ALERT STATUS
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention maintains that the current public health risk from H5N1 remains low. However, we are actively monitoring this situation with heightened vigilance. Since 2024, H5N1 has been widespread in wild birds worldwide and is causing outbreaks in poultry and dairy cattle in the United States. Human cases remain sporadic and are primarily occurring in dairy and poultry workers with direct animal exposure.
We must note that in late November 2025, a patient in Louisiana who had been hospitalized with severe H5N1 passed away. This was the first severe case and first human fatality from H5N1 in the United States. The patient was over 65 years old, had underlying medical conditions, and became infected following exposure to a backyard flock and wild birds. This case is being carefully studied, and the CDC confirms there is no evidence of person-to-person transmission anywhere in the country.
SYMPTOMS REQUIRING IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION
If you experience any of the following symptoms after exposure to birds or poultry, seek emergency medical care immediately: severe respiratory distress, persistent high fever above 103 degrees Fahrenheit, confusion or altered mental status, or coughing up blood.
Symptoms you can monitor at home include mild fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, and fatigue. These may appear two to ten days after exposure. Contact your healthcare provider if symptoms persist or worsen.
GUIDELINES FOR HIGH-RISK WORKERS
If you work with poultry or in dairy farming, follow these containment protocols: wear appropriate personal protective equipment including N95 masks and gloves when handling animals, practice rigorous hand hygiene, shower and change clothes immediately after work, monitor your health daily for symptoms, and report any sick animals to agricultural authorities immediately.
GUIDELINES FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC
Priority one: avoid contact with wild birds, sick poultry, and infected animals. Priority two: practice regular handwashing, especially after outdoor activities. Priority three: do not touch or pick up dead birds without proper protection. Priority four: secure your trash and keep your home free of rodents and birds. Priority five: maintain distance from backyard flocks and report sick animals to local agricultural departments.
RESOURCES AND SUPPORT
For comprehensive information, visit CDC.gov slash bird-flu. For California residents, contact the California Department of Public Health. Call your local health department for exposure concerns or medical questions.
Thank you for tuning in to this H5N1 Bird Flu Briefing. Please join us next week for additional public health updates and guidance. This has been a Quiet Please production. For more information, check out Quiet Please dot A I.
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