Bird Flu Update: US H5N1 News Now
This is Bird Flu Update: US H5N1 News Now, your weekly roundup of the latest developments on avian influenza in the United States.
Today is August 25, 2025. Over the past week, state and federal agencies continue their response to the ongoing H5N1 bird flu outbreak impacting both livestock and public health. According to CDC reports, no new human H5N1 cases have been confirmed in the US since mid-February 2025. Nationally, the total stands at 70 human cases since April 2024. Most of these infections remain linked to direct exposure to sick dairy cows or poultry and have, so far, resulted in mild illness, treated successfully with antivirals. There remains no evidence of human-to-human transmission in the United States. The CDC emphasizes that the overall public health risk has not changed and is still considered low.
On the animal side, the outbreak persists across multiple states. The USDA has now documented confirmed H5N1 infections in 989 dairy herds spanning 17 states, with more than 90 million commercial and backyard birds affected since early 2022. Over the past week, California has reported reinfections on 43 dairy farms previously cleared and released from quarantine, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture. In response, these dairies have been re-quarantined. The statewide ban on all poultry and dairy cattle exhibitions at shows and fairs remains in effect. Regular surveillance and bulk tank milk testing are ongoing in California and other affected regions.
National surveillance also continues. The CDC, USDA, and FDA are coordinating efforts to monitor animal and human cases, protect farmworkers, and safeguard food supply chains. Surveillance data for influenza deaths and hospitalizations remain stable, with the CDC indicating only a fraction of recent deaths are linked to influenza, and none attributed to H5N1 in the latest reports.
In terms of official guidance, on July 7, the CDC streamlined H5N1 reporting and incorporated bird flu case updates into its routine influenza data updates. Human case numbers are now updated monthly, and livestock outbreak details are provided on the USDA website. The CDC continues to recommend heightened protective measures for people with occupational or recreational exposure to birds, poultry, or dairy cows. These include use of personal protective equipment, thorough hand hygiene, and awareness of symptoms.
On the research front, a new USDA technical report released August 7 offers an analysis of HPAI-affected livestock herds, and recent studies are refining models for disease surveillance in bulk milk testing. These scientific efforts aim to improve outbreak detection and containment in dairy environments.
For listeners, here’s what you need to know. For the vast majority of the public, the risk from H5N1 remains low. If you work on a farm or handle poultry or livestock, follow all biosecurity and hygiene protocols and contact health authorities if you experience flu-like symptoms after exposure. Regular consumers need not worry about foodborne transmission, as pasteurization and proper cooking eliminate the virus.
Comparing this week to previous updates, the overall public health situation is stable with no new human cases, but animal outbreaks, especially in dairies, continue to be detected and managed. Public health advice remains unchanged, with a focus on occupational protection and ongoing surveillance.
Thank you for tuning in to Bird Flu Update: US H5N1 News Now. Join us again next week for the latest developments. This has been a Quiet Please production. For more information, check out Quiet Please Dot A I.
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