Bird Flu Update: US H5N1 News Now
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Host: Good evening, and welcome to Bird Flu Update: US H5N1 News Now. I'm your host, bringing you the latest on the ongoing avian influenza outbreak in the United States as of late February 2026. Today, we cover confirmed cases, agency updates, guidance changes, research insights, what it means for you, and how things stack up against recent weeks.
Let's start with human cases. The CDC reports 71 confirmed H5N1 infections in the US since April 2024. Of these, 41 stem from dairy herd exposure, 24 from poultry farms and culling, three from other animals like backyard flocks or wild birds, and three with unknown sources. Most cases are mild, featuring conjunctivitis and respiratory symptoms, though a severe poultry worker hospitalization occurred in Ohio in February 2025 with a reassortant strain. No human-to-human transmission has been detected, and public risk remains low per CDC data.
In animals, USDA confirms over 1,000 dairy herds affected across 17 states since March 2024, with California leading at 759 cases, prompting a state emergency in December 2024. Poultry sees 336 commercial and 207 backyard flocks impacted, totaling over 90 million birds. Recent wildlife detections include Catalina Island foxes in Los Angeles and domestic cats in New Jersey this February, alongside mammals like red foxes and skunks nationwide. California's CDFA confirmed HPAI in Sonoma, Madera, and Merced County commercial flocks as recently as February 9.
From the past week, CDC wastewater surveillance shows low H5 levels at 1.9 percent of sites mid-February, aligning with no widespread human spread. USDA's National Milk Testing Strategy, rolled out December 2024 and expanded to 28 states by January 2025, continues proactive silo and farm sampling to track and contain dairy infections.
No major guidance shifts this week, but federal mandates since April and December 2024 require pre-interstate milk cow testing, boosting detections. Research highlights mammalian adaptation markers like PB2 mutations in strains, plus USDA fast-tracking livestock vaccines. CDC has monitored over 31,900 exposed workers since 2022, testing 1,300 with symptoms.
For listeners: Avoid raw milk, unpasteurized dairy, and contact with sick birds or cattle. Farm workers, monitor for eye redness or flu symptoms for 10 days post-exposure and report to health officials. Pasteurized milk and cooked poultry remain safe.
Compared to prior weeks, human cases hold steady at 71 total with no new reports, but animal detections persist in wildlife and flocks. Dairy herds exceed 1,000 versus 989 late last year, thanks to enhanced testing revealing more cases without surging outbreaks.
Thanks for tuning in. Join us next week for more updates. This has been a Quiet Please production. For me, check out Quiet Please Dot AI.
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