This is H5N1 Global Scan: Avian Flu Worldwide. I’m your host, bringing you the latest international focus on how avian influenza is shaping our world.

Avian influenza H5N1 has become a truly global concern. Since 2020, outbreaks have been detected on every continent except Australia. Wild aquatic birds act as natural carriers, but the virus now infects poultry, mammals like seals and dairy cattle, and humans. According to the World Health Organization, since 2003 nearly a thousand human cases and 475 deaths have been reported worldwide—a case fatality rate near 50 percent. The Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia all report persistent, sometimes severe, outbreaks in birds, mammals, and rare but often deadly human infections.

Let’s break it down by continent. In the Americas, the Pan American Health Organization reports over five thousand H5N1 outbreaks since 2022, affecting poultry, wild birds, and increasingly, mammals like sea lions and dairy cattle. South America saw mass wildlife die-offs in Argentina and Uruguay, devastating seal and bird populations and seriously impacting local economies. In North America, the US CDC notes widespread infection in wild birds and sporadic outbreaks on poultry farms. There have been multiple human cases, some linked to direct contact with infected animals or unpasteurized milk.

In Europe, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control reports hundreds of outbreaks between June and September 2025, with recent human cases in countries like Cambodia, Bangladesh, and India. Africa and Asia continue to face endemic H5N1, with new strains causing concern for animal and public health. Outbreaks in sub-Saharan Africa disrupt food security, while densely populated regions in Southeast Asia remain hotspots for new spillover events.

Turning to international research: Recent advances from teams in Europe, China, and North America have identified the virus’s alarming ability to jump between species, causing concern for potential adaptation to humans. According to peer-reviewed studies, the dominant H5N1 clade circulating now has evolved through genetic mixing, making control more difficult. WHO and the Food and Agriculture Organization both stress the urgent need for a “One Health” approach—coordinated surveillance, rapid information sharing, and integrated animal and public health measures.

On coordination, the World Organization for Animal Health leads the global reporting system, while the WHO and FAO issue joint risk assessments, especially as H5N1 now affects both poultry industries and wildlife. The FAO’s October 2025 update confirmed 954 outbreaks since September in 38 countries, showing how quickly the virus moves and why rapid data exchange is essential.

International trade is feeling the strain. Outbreaks trigger immediate bans on poultry exports, as seen in the Philippines and Argentina, costing billions and threatening livelihoods. The detection of the virus in dairy products raised cross-border food safety concerns and led to stricter controls and disruptions across supply chains.

Vaccine development remains a global priority. Several countries, including the US, China, and France, have rolled out or are expanding H5N1 poultry vaccination campaigns. Human vaccines exist for stockpiling in case of a pandemic, but none are widely used—production capacity and equitable access are still big hurdles.

National strategies vary: the US combines culling with targeted surveillance and voluntary testing in dairy herds, while the EU enforces strict biosecurity and expanding vaccination. In parts of Asia, rapid response and culling are standard, but resource constraints limit containment.

To sum up, H5N1 is a fast-moving, cross-species problem with far-reaching impacts on health, trade, and ecosystems. Scientists and global agencies urge stronger surveillance, investment in vaccines, and...