Bird Flu Tracker Avian Influenza A H5N1 cover art

Bird Flu Tracker Avian Influenza A H5N1

Bird Flu Tracker Avian Influenza A H5N1

By: Quiet. Please
Listen for free

About this listen

 Avian influenza or bird flu refers to the disease caused by infection with avian (bird) influenza (flu) Type A viruses. These viruses naturally spread among wild aquatic birds worldwide and can infect domestic poultry and other bird and animal species. Bird flu viruses do not normally infect humans. However, sporadic human infections with bird flu viruses have occurred.

for more info go to https://www.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/index.htmCopyright 2024 Quiet. Please Hygiene & Healthy Living Politics & Government
Episodes
  • Bird Flu Outbreak Persists Nationwide, Prompting Heightened Vigilance and Biosecurity Measures

    Bird Flu Outbreak Persists Nationwide, Prompting Heightened Vigilance and Biosecurity Measures
    Aug 14 2025
    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
    Show More Show Less
    3 mins
  • Avian Flu Update: U.S. Sees Low Human Risk, Surveillance Continues Amid Agricultural Concerns

    Avian Flu Update: U.S. Sees Low Human Risk, Surveillance Continues Amid Agricultural Concerns
    Aug 12 2025
    It’s Tuesday, August 12, 2025. Here’s your bird flu update.

    In the U.S., CDC’s latest FluView update for Week 31 reports no confirmed new human infections with avian influenza A(H5) this week and continues to assess the public health risk as low, with overall influenza activity minimal nationwide. According to CDC, pediatric flu deaths for the 2024–25 season reached a record for a non-pandemic year, but these are unrelated to H5 and reflect seasonal influenza patterns. CDC also notes several recent U.S. A(H5) detections in humans where the virus could not be isolated to determine the neuraminidase subtype, underscoring ongoing surveillance challenges.

    The CDC’s global H5N1 human case curve, updated August 8, shows sporadic human infections since 2021’s shift to the current clade, with U.S. cases remaining rare and generally mild, and no sustained human-to-human transmission reported. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control’s Week 32 threats report, as of August 7, tallies 990 human H5N1 cases and 474 deaths globally since 2003, noting that reported case fatality may overestimate risk due to underdetection of mild infections.

    In U.S. agriculture, concerns persist over H5N1’s impact on poultry and cattle. The Council on Foreign Relations notes that avian flu has been detected in 48 states and previously affected more than 82 million poultry; spillover to dairy cattle has reduced milk yields in affected herds, though supplies remain stable. Policy debates intensified after Global Biodefense reported last week that HHS canceled $500 million in mRNA vaccine development funding, prompting expert warnings about overreliance on egg-based vaccine production that could be strained during avian outbreaks.

    Wildlife surveillance remains active. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s All About Birds update through August 2025 lists more than 12,700 detections in U.S. wild birds since 2022 across many species, with ongoing guidance that transmission to humans remains rare and that normal backyard feeder practices can continue with hygiene and regional advisories. Environmental Health News reported yesterday that since 2020 H5N1 has impacted hundreds of bird species and dozens of mammal species across most continents, reflecting the virus’s broad ecological reach.

    Bottom line: U.S. human risk remains low; surveillance and farm biosecurity are focused on limiting spillover, while preparedness discussions center on vaccine capacity and supply chains.

    Thanks for tuning in—come back next week for more. This has been a Quiet Please production, and for me check out Quiet Please dot A I.

    For more http://www.quietplease.ai

    Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta
    Show More Show Less
    3 mins
  • Vigilance Urged Amid Persistent Bird Flu Threat: Experts Highlight Airborne Transmission Risks and Vaccine Supply Vulnerabilities

    Vigilance Urged Amid Persistent Bird Flu Threat: Experts Highlight Airborne Transmission Risks and Vaccine Supply Vulnerabilities
    Aug 10 2025
    Bird flu remains in sharp focus this week as the United States continues to monitor both wild and domestic animal cases, with public health authorities stressing the importance of vigilance even as the summer brings fewer outbreaks in people and livestock. As of August 9, 2025, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that since January, there have been 26 global human H5N1 cases with 11 deaths, all linked to direct contact with infected animals. Notably, the U.S. has not reported a new human case since mid-February, and the overall risk to the American public is still considered low according to the CDC.

    Surveillance of wild birds remains aggressive, with All About Birds reporting over 12,700 confirmed detections in wild species across North America this season—evidence of the virus’s deep entrenchment in avian populations since the outbreak began in 2022. While transmission to humans continues to be rare, concerns linger due to sporadic detections in dairy cattle and an isolated number of human cases globally.

    Recent scientific studies out of California, summarized by CIDRAP and the Advisory Board, reveal new evidence that bird flu can be transmitted through the air on dairy farms, not just by direct contact or contaminated surfaces. Researchers found infectious virus particles in air samples during milking and housing of cows. This airborne aspect could help explain sporadic outbreaks in herds, with continued detections in California this week despite an overall decrease in summer. The USDA now reports over 1,070 herds affected in 17 states since early 2024.

    On the pandemic preparedness front, there are growing warnings about vulnerabilities in the U.S. vaccine supply strategy. Global Biodefense outlines how the recent cancellation of $500 million in mRNA vaccine funding risks leaving the country dangerously reliant on traditional egg-based flu vaccines. Such reliance worries experts, since the ongoing bird flu outbreak has already led to mass poultry culls, reducing the future ability to produce vaccines quickly should a wider outbreak in humans occur.

    Internationally, most of this year’s severe human outcomes have been in Cambodia, India, and Mexico, where deaths occurred following direct exposure to infected birds or animals.

    Public health officials stress that protective measures for workers exposed to poultry and dairy cattle remain critical, as does continued investment in improved surveillance and rapid-response vaccine technologies.

    Thank you for tuning in to this week’s bird flu update. Come back next week for the latest on this evolving story. This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out Quiet Please dot A I.

    For more http://www.quietplease.ai

    Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta
    Show More Show Less
    3 mins
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.