Bird Flu Outbreak Persists Nationwide, Prompting Heightened Vigilance and Biosecurity Measures cover art

Bird Flu Outbreak Persists Nationwide, Prompting Heightened Vigilance and Biosecurity Measures

Bird Flu Outbreak Persists Nationwide, Prompting Heightened Vigilance and Biosecurity Measures

Listen for free

View show details

About this listen

 Bird flu continues to make headlines in the United States, with public health officials closely monitoring outbreaks affecting both poultry and dairy cattle. Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared the emergency response to H5N1 over in July, concern remains high as the virus has become airborne in several dairy herds and surveillance persists for future mutations. According to Food Safety News, the U.S. has seen a break in reported infections among birds and mammals in the last 30 days, with the last major outbreak occurring in May 2025. Despite this lull, over 174 million birds across 1,709 flocks have been lost nationwide since early 2022.

The CDC reports that seventy Americans, mostly dairy and poultry workers, have contracted bird flu since March 2024, with all cases exhibiting mild symptoms, except for one fatality recorded in Louisiana in January. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced a comprehensive five-pronged strategy in February, focusing on increased biosecurity audits and continued investment in containment and surveillance measures—an echo of previous efforts that have already cost at least $1.8 billion.

Globally, bird flu remains widespread. According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, as of August 7, 2025, there have been 990 human cases of avian influenza A(H5N1) diagnosed worldwide since 2003, leading to 474 deaths. Most cases are severe, but the true fatality rate could be lower due to possible underreporting of milder illness. H5N1 has now impacted 485 bird species and 48 mammal species globally, with scientists warning that the current outbreak is the most rapid and extensive in history, threatening biodiversity and raising risks to humans as the virus adapts to new hosts.

Within the U.S., recent shifts have seen poultry shows and exhibitions cancelled, particularly in California, due to ongoing risks, and experts now warn that bird flu may become a year-round endemic disease. Maurice Pitesky of UC Davis tells UC Agriculture and Natural Resources that this marks a new reality for animal health and agriculture, with wild birds, domestic flocks, and even non-migratory mammals acting as potential carriers.

On a positive note, virologic surveillance by the CDC shows low influenza activity nationwide, with just 0.4% of specimens testing positive during the first week of August. Experts across the board agree that continued vigilance, strong biosecurity, and possible vaccination rollouts for poultry remain essential to keep outbreaks at bay and minimize the risk of further human transmission.

Thank you for tuning in. Join us next week for more essential updates. This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out QuietPlease dot AI.

For more http://www.quietplease.ai

Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta
No reviews yet
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.