Bird Flu Tracker Avian Influenza A H5N1

• Avian Influenza Case Detected in Washington: Health Officials Monitoring Situation

  A new case of avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, has been preliminarily identified in Grays Harbor County, Washington, according to the Washington State Department of Health. The patient, described as an older adult with underlying health conditions, developed a high fever, respiratory distress, and confusion in early November and remains hospitalized in King County. Confirmatory testing is pending, but if validated, this will mark the first documented human case of bird flu in Washington for 2025.State officials note that the risk for avian influenza rises in autumn and winter as migratory birds can transmit the virus to both commercial poultry and backyard flocks. The investigation is ongoing to determine if the patient was infected through contact with wild or domestic birds. Public health officials are actively reaching out to anyone who had close contact with the patient to monitor for symptoms and provide testing as necessary. The Department of Health emphasizes that transmission of bird flu from person to person remains extremely rare and has not been documented in the United States.According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there have been 71 reported human cases of H5 bird flu in the U.S. since 2024, most of which involved close contact with infected dairy herds or poultry. California leads with the highest number of reported cases. Louisiana recorded the nation’s first H5 bird flu-related death earlier this year. The CDC continues to stress that the current public health risk remains low, and authorities are monitoring the situation closely.On the global front, the spread of avian influenza among wild birds continues to be a concern for agriculture and food security. While the majority of recent cases are linked to animal exposure, there are still calls for enhanced surveillance and biosecurity measures. Officials strongly advise people not to consume raw or unpasteurized animal products, including milk, and to ensure poultry and eggs are thoroughly cooked.As a preventative measure, the seasonal flu vaccine is recommended for everyone over six months old. This does not prevent bird flu directly, but reduces the likelihood of concurrent infection with both human and avian influenza viruses.Thanks for tuning in to this update on the latest bird flu developments. Come back next week for more. This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out quietplease.ai.For more http://www.quietplease.aiGet the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOtaThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

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• Washington State Reports First Human Infection with Rare H5N5 Bird Flu Strain

  Washington state has reported the first-ever human infection with the H5N5 strain of bird flu, officials confirmed Monday. This case, detected in an older adult with underlying medical conditions, marks not only the first U.S. human infection with this particular strain but also the first time H5N5 avian influenza has been identified in a human anywhere. According to HealthDay News and the Washington State Department of Health, the patient remains hospitalized after developing a high fever, confusion, and trouble breathing earlier this month. The individual had direct contact with a backyard flock, some of which died just weeks before, and wild birds had access to the property. Experts told The Washington Post that, although H5N5 behaves similarly to the H5N1 strain that has caused sporadic outbreaks in animals and people worldwide, the public health risk remains low.State officials and the CDC emphasize there is no evidence of person-to-person transmission. Over 100 healthcare workers who cared for the patient have been monitored, with no additional cases detected. Dr. Tao Kwan-Gett, Washington’s state health officer, said, “We have identified no additional individuals other than the patient who is infected with H5N5.”The CDC’s latest situation update highlights that H5 bird flu remains widespread in wild birds and is causing outbreaks in U.S. poultry and dairy cows. Since early 2024, 71 people nationwide have tested positive for various strains, mostly after direct exposure to infected animals. Only one death has been recorded, in Louisiana. Officials caution that risk typically rises as colder weather prompts migratory birds—which can carry the virus—to mingle with domestic flocks, increasing the odds of transmission.Recent investigative reporting by ProPublica underscores ongoing debate about whether bird flu can be transmitted between farms via airborne particles. While the USDA continues to focus on wild birds and biosecurity, some experts believe that not enough has been done to study the possibility of windborne spread, and some European countries are already using poultry vaccines in response.Globally, concern remains due to the virus’s ability to infect a wide variety of animals, with increasing vigilance over both animal and human health in the U.S., Europe, and Asia.Thanks for tuning in to today’s update on the evolving bird flu situation. Be sure to come back next week for the latest news. This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out QuietPlease.AI.For more http://www.quietplease.aiGet the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOtaThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

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• Alarming Bird Flu Resurgence Sparks Heightened Vigilance Nationwide

  Bird flu headlines across the United States are drawing renewed concern after recent updates from public health officials. After a quieter summer period, Health Affairs Forefront reported yesterday that bird flu cases are once again ticking up nationally. While much of the focus has been on monitoring outbreaks among poultry, the attention shifted sharply this week following a significant human case.The Los Angeles Times reported that a resident in Washington state has been hospitalized after contracting a new form of bird flu, marking the first case of its kind in the country. The source of infection remains unknown, and officials are investigating whether there were any links to local poultry or exposure to infected birds. This case stands out because, until now, the US has not seen widespread transmission to humans, and the CDC confirms that no human-to-human spread of avian influenza A(H5) virus has been detected this week.Globally, bird flu continues to disrupt poultry industries and prompt border controls, especially in Europe and Asia, where outbreaks among flocks remain a persistent challenge. However, there have been no immediate reports of confirmed human infections internationally in the past 24 hours.The CDC, in its latest surveillance summary for the week ending November 8, confirms that there were no other confirmed human infections with the influenza A(H5) virus across the United States. Still, authorities remain on high alert as colder months typically see an uptick in both animal and human flu cases, and there is close scrutiny for any signs of human-to-human transmission.Experts urge Americans not to panic but remain informed. Health officials recommend avoiding contact with wild or sick birds, practicing good hygiene, and staying updated as government agencies continue rigorous monitoring of the situation.That wraps up this week’s coverage of bird flu developments in the US and abroad. Thanks for tuning in. Be sure to come back next week for more news updates. This has been a Quiet Please production, and for more, check out QuietPlease Dot A I.For more http://www.quietplease.aiGet the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOtaThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

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• Evolving Avian Flu Crisis: Outbreaks Surge Across the U.S. and Globe

  Bird flu continues to make headlines in the United States and worldwide as new outbreaks and scientific discoveries raise concerns about the virus’s ability to spread and potentially adapt. In the last 24 hours, officials in Michigan confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza in several additional poultry flocks, including three commercial farms in Ottawa County and backyard flocks in Monroe and St. Clair counties. According to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, these latest cases bring Ottawa County's flock total this year to 15. Agriculture authorities emphasize that strong biosecurity measures and personal protective equipment remain vital, and they encourage residents to report any unusual signs of illness or deaths in domestic or wild birds immediately.Nationally, the United States continues grappling with what experts describe as one of its worst bird flu outbreaks. Penn Vet reports that wild birds remain the main drivers of current spread, introducing H5N1 strains to domestic poultry and even mammals. The Conversation notes that since the arrival of HPAI A(H5Nx) in North America in 2021, more than 180 million birds and over 1,000 dairy cattle farms in the U.S. have been impacted. Mass die-offs in wild populations and persistent threats to domestic flocks have fueled concerns among scientists and farmers alike.States such as Washington are particularly hard-hit; Axios reports nearly 2 million cases in the region last month, making it the second-highest in the country. Outbreaks are also surging elsewhere including California, where SFGate says over 351,000 birds have been culled recently due to infection on Sonoma County farms. Globally, bird flu season started unusually early this year, with notable outbreaks not only in the U.S. but also in Japan and Europe according to Four Paws.Health experts are warning of a quiet, ongoing risk. Gavi’s VaccinesWork highlights findings of asymptomatic H5N1 infections in humans—meaning the virus could be spreading undetected and adapting for more efficient transmission. CDC experts and international virologists continue to monitor both H5N1 and emerging subtypes like H9N2, which recent research suggests may be developing greater pandemic potential.While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises that public health risk remains low, scientists caution that ongoing genetic changes in the virus, combined with undetected transmission chains, could raise the threat level over time. Vaccine researchers, led by groups such as CEPI, are accelerating development of new flu vaccines and monitoring for further mutations.Thank you for tuning in to today’s bird flu update. Remember to check back next week for more news and insights. This has been a Quiet Please production—for more, visit Quiet Please Dot A I.For more http://www.quietplease.aiGet the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOtaThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

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• Alarming Bird Flu Outbreak: Millions of Birds Impacted, Experts Warn of Pandemic Potential

  The United States continues to grapple with an unprecedented and ongoing outbreak of bird flu, also known as H5N1 avian influenza. Over 180 million birds and more than 1,000 dairy cattle farms across the country have been directly impacted, according to the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s health security division. Wild birds are now recognized as the primary drivers of the current U.S. bird flu outbreak, with experts like Penn Vet’s Louise Moncla tracking H5N1’s persistent spread among native avian populations.Most concerning to scientists is the possibility that H5N1 may be spreading undetected among people. VaccinesWork reports that while bird flu has largely affected those in direct contact with sick animals, recent genetic changes in the virus have enabled it to infect mammals more efficiently. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have identified instances of asymptomatic human infection in multiple countries, raising the possibility that person-to-person transmission chains could be developing beneath the surface, untracked by standard monitoring systems.Rick Bright, of Bright Global Health, and Nicole Lurie of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, emphasized in JAMA that these new patterns could signify an “emerging pandemic potential.” Lurie recently told VaccinesWork that, in the U.S., we’re at a point where cases may be spreading unnoticed. Human H5N1 infections have also now been reported in Mexico, Bangladesh, and Cambodia.The challenge is compounded by the rapid pace of viral evolution. The experience of COVID-19 underscores how easily a novel pathogen can escape early detection, granting more opportunities for mutation. With H5N1, the worry is that silent community spread—especially among those with mild or no symptoms—could give rise to a variant better adapted to human-to-human transmission. Public health officials also note the risk that co-infection with seasonal flu could accelerate these changes.This year’s avian influenza season has come earlier and harder than usual, according to animal welfare NGO FOUR PAWS. Outbreaks are expanding not just in the U.S. but also in Japan and Europe, signaling a global challenge likely to persist through the winter. Meanwhile, CEPI is investing millions into rapidly developing new H5N1 vaccine candidates using advanced biotech platforms to prepare should the situation escalate.New research also highlights the evolution of other bird flu strains, such as H9N2, which is showing greater potential to infect humans compared to previous years. Scientists worldwide are calling for intensified surveillance and public health preparedness.Thank you for tuning in. Come back next week for more updates. This has been a Quiet Please production—check out QuietPlease.ai for more.For more http://www.quietplease.aiGet the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOtaThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

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