BIRD FLU OUTBREAK CONTINUES TO SPREAD ACROSS US AND GLOBALLY

Health officials are tracking a concerning surge in avian influenza cases as the 2025-2026 season progresses. The situation remains fluid with new cases emerging regularly across multiple states and countries.

In the United States, the CDC reports that over 50 human cases of H5N1 bird flu have been confirmed this year, with infections detected in seven states. Most recently, a patient in Washington State died from H5N5 infection, marking only the second human death from avian influenza in the country. This case represents the first confirmed H5N5 infection in a human globally, according to CDC records. The patient was an older adult with underlying health conditions who likely contracted the virus from backyard poultry exposed to wild birds.

The outbreak has significantly impacted the dairy industry, with more than 700 dairy herds affected predominantly in California. The USDA announced a new mandate on December 6th requiring testing of the national milk supply for bird flu beginning December 16th. Entities handling raw milk in six states including California, Colorado, Michigan, Mississippi, Pennsylvania and Oregon will collect and share samples with agricultural officials.

Internationally, Cambodia is experiencing a severe outbreak with 18 confirmed H5N1 cases reported in 2025 alone, and nine of those cases have been fatal. Since February 2023, Cambodia has documented 33 total cases with a 42 percent fatality rate. Most exposures involved contact with sick poultry.

Bangladesh reported its third confirmed case of H5N1 this year in May, while China confirmed a human case in May as well. Meanwhile, Germany has been battling widespread avian influenza among birds, with an estimated 2,000 cranes dead and over 500,000 birds culled by the German government as of October.

The virus continues to evolve, with scientists noting that H5N1 is mutating faster than ever. The predominant strain in the US, clade 2.3.4.4b, has demonstrated the ability to spread across multiple species including cattle, cats, raccoons and humans.

Public health agencies emphasize that while the global risk remains low for the general population, occupational exposure continues to pose elevated risk for farm workers and those handling infected animals.

Thank you for tuning in to today's bird flu update. Be sure to come back next week for more breaking health news. This has been a Quiet Please production. For more information, check out Quiet Please Dot A I.

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