Welcome to “H5N1 Global Scan: Avian Flu Worldwide.” Today, we examine the international impact of the continuing H5N1 avian influenza outbreak as it shapes public health, research, trade, and biosecurity across continents.

Let’s break it down by region. In the Americas, since 2022, there have been more than five thousand outbreaks reported in nineteen countries and territories. Human infections remain rare but concerning, with seventy-six reported cases and two deaths, primarily linked to direct exposure to infected animals, according to the Pan American Health Organization. In North America, recent cases have involved not just poultry but dairy cattle, with the United States confirming forty-one infections in people exposed to dairy herds, as the Centers for Disease Control notes.

In Europe, outbreaks have persisted in dozens of countries. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control reports recent clusters in Hungary, France, Austria, and the United Kingdom. The region has seen spikes in both bird and mammal infections, including wildlife spillovers that threaten biodiversity.

Asia continues to see both animal and human cases, with Cambodia, Bangladesh, and India again reporting confirmed human infections. The Cambodian Ministry of Health identified several cases linked to close contact with domestic poultry, underlining ongoing risk in agricultural areas.

Africa, South America, and the Middle East also remain vigilant, with notable outbreaks in South Africa, Brazil, and Israel. The situation in South America has been particularly severe, with high wildlife mortality – Argentina and Chile, for instance, have reported mass die-offs among aquatic birds and sea mammals, as highlighted by ongoing surveillance from local ministries.

Global coordination is driven by the World Health Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization, and the World Organisation for Animal Health. Their joint assessments, updated as recently as July 2025, state that while the overall public health risk for H5N1 remains low, occupational exposure raises local risk for those in poultry and livestock industries. WHO continues to monitor sporadic human cases and mandates all member states report new infections promptly.

On the research front, international initiatives are probing H5N1’s genetic diversification, especially the predominance of clade 2.3.4.4b—a mutation now affecting a wider array of species, from wild birds to mammals. The Pasteur Institute, CDC, and other organizations are pushing cross-disciplinary studies, investigating spillover dynamics, transmission among mammals, and possible threats to new regions like Antarctica.

Trade impacts are substantial. Several nations—including Argentina, the US, and countries in Europe—have temporarily banned exports of poultry and related products during significant outbreaks to contain spread, causing strains in global protein supply chains.

As for vaccines, the global development status is challenging. Human vaccines are in experimental phases, with some strategic stockpiles maintained by health ministries; animal vaccines are more widely deployed, though concerns remain about efficacy across different viral clades and the risk of masking infections.

National containment strategies vary: the US focuses on rapid surveillance and containment in commercial herds, while Cambodia and Bangladesh rely on community education and culling. Europe combines strict animal movement controls with wildlife monitoring, and South American governments prioritize rapid response and wildlife rescue.

Cross-border movement of both birds and products, alongside migratory routes, complicates the containment puzzle, demanding intensive regional cooperation. The WHO stresses the importance of transparent communication and harmonized response protocols.

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