The United States continues to monitor the threat of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1, commonly known as bird flu, with vigilance remaining high but no new human cases reported domestically since February. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. recorded three cases in early 2025, all linked to direct animal exposure, and no person-to-person spread has been identified. Globally, however, the toll is more apparent—twenty-six human infections have been detected since January 1, with eleven deaths reported, largely from Cambodia, India, and Mexico. Most cases outside the U.S. involved known exposure to poultry or wild birds, underscoring the continued risk for those in close contact with infected animals.
Dairy cattle remain an area of particular concern in the U.S. Recent research from Emory University, highlighted by the Pandora Report and summarized by CIDRAP, has found that while outbreaks on American dairy farms have declined, sporadic cases continue to emerge—with the latest confirmed just last week on a California dairy farm. To date, 1,078 herds in 17 states have been affected, with California representing the majority of cases. Researchers have now documented clear evidence that airborne transmission and wastewater contamination may play crucial roles in the spread of H5N1 among cattle, beyond the initially suspected routes involving contaminated milk or direct contact.
Meanwhile, the public health system faces challenges in pandemic preparedness. As reported by Global Biodefense, the recent decision by Health and Human Services to cancel $500 million in funding for mRNA vaccine development, including those targeting H5N1, has stirred concern among experts. The nation’s continued reliance on chicken eggs for vaccine production creates a circular vulnerability—if poultry flocks are devastated by an avian flu outbreak, the very supply chain for flu vaccines could be disrupted, dramatically hampering any rapid response.
Globally, the World Health Organization is calling for enhanced influenza surveillance and genetic monitoring of the H5 virus. Recent WHO-led meetings in Southeast Asia emphasized virus sharing and coordinated response to contain both zoonotic spillover and potential mutations. Additionally, the Global Conference on Biological Threat Reduction is set for October in Geneva, aiming to address pandemic risks and bolster international collaboration.
Across the first half of this year, avian influenza has also become the leading disease threat to certain wildlife species, with ongoing high mortality in wild birds and animal populations, as reported by disease tracking sources.
Thank you for tuning in to this bird flu update. Come back next week for more critical news. This has been a Quiet Please production—for more, check out Quiet Please Dot A I.
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Aug 14 20253 mins