US H5N1 Bird Flu Update: 71 Cases Confirmed in 2024, Risk to Public Remains Low

US H5N1 Bird Flu Update March 2026 71 Human Cases No New Infections This Week

Bird Flu Update: US H5N1 News Now [Host, energetic news tone] Welcome to Bird Flu Update: US H5N1 News Now, your three-minute briefing on the latest avian influenza developments in the United States. Im bringing you the facts from the CDC, USDA, and frontline reports as of mid-March 2026. Lets dive in. First, human cases: The CDC reports a total of 71 confirmed H5N1 infections in humans since February 2024, with no new cases in the past week through February 28. According to CDC data, 41 cases stem from dairy cattle exposure, mostly mild conjunctivitis in farm workers; 24 from poultry farms and culling, ranging mild to severe; three from other animals like backyard flocks or wild birds, including the fatal Louisiana case in January 2025 with the D1.1 genotype; and three with unknown sources, raising concerns about undetected spread. Two deaths total: Louisiana in 2025 and Washington State in November 2025 from an H5N5 reassortant. CDC surveillance shows no person-to-person transmission, and public health risk remains low, with over 32,600 people monitored since September 2025 and no unusual flu activity. In animals, outbreaks persist. CRVSciences comprehensive 2026 report details uncontrolled spread in dairy cattle and poultry, with 1,084 dairy cases across 19 states since 2024. California Department of Food and Agriculture notes two dairy herds under quarantine as of February 21, down from peaks of 14 in early 2025. Wisconsin DATCP confirmed HPAI in a Dane County poultry flock on March 2 and Jefferson County on February 27. USDA APHIS logs widespread wild bird infections, sporadic poultry outbreaks, and mammal cases, including recent black vulture and snow goose die-offs in Ohio and Pennsylvania per Farm and Dairy. In the last 30 days, CIDRAP reports 67 flocks affected nationwide, 36 commercial. No major CDC or USDA updates this week, but containment holds steady: quarantines, testing like Minnesotas double PCR for bird movement, and pasteurization ensuring safe milk. Research highlights: US cases show milder eye symptoms versus historical severe pneumonia, but the virus retains lethality in vulnerable people, per CRVSciences analysis. What does this mean for you? Risk to the general public is lowavoid raw milk, sick birds, or unpasteurized dairy. Farm workers: use PPE. Cook poultry and eggs thoroughly. Stock up on flu antivirals if high-risk. Compared to prior weeks: Human cases flat at 71, no uptick from Februarys zero new reports. Animal outbreaks dipped in California dairies but poultry surges in Midwest, versus 1.4 million birds affected in late 2025 per Sentient Mediafarms adapting, but wild bird migration looms. Thanks for tuning in. Join us next week for more. This has been a Quiet Please production. For me, check out Quiet Please Dot A I. [End music fade. Word count: 498. Character count: 2897] For more http://www.quietplease.ai Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.

US H5N1 Bird Flu Update February 2025 Three Human Cases Low Public Risk CDC

Bird Flu Update: US H5N1 News Now [Upbeat news intro music fades out] Host: Welcome to Bird Flu Update: US H5N1 News Now, your three-minute briefing on the latest avian influenza developments in the United States. I'm your host, bringing you the facts from the CDC, USDA, and state health agencies. Public health risk remains low, with no person-to-person spread detected. Let's start with human cases. As of late February 2025, the CDC confirmed three human H5N1 infections in 2025: a dairy worker in Nevada exposed to infected cows, who had mild symptoms; a poultry culler in Ohio, hospitalized with severe respiratory illness but now recovering at home; and a Wyoming backyard flock owner with underlying conditions, also hospitalized from lower respiratory samples but discharged and recovering. CDC's February 26 update notes genetic sequencing showed clade 2.3.4.4.b viruses, nearly identical to animal strains, with a PB2 mutation in Wyoming linked to mammal adaptation but no impact on antivirals or vaccines. Nationally, 71 human cases since April 2024, mostly from dairy or poultry exposure. In animals, outbreaks persist. USDA reports ongoing detections in wild birds, sporadic in poultry and mammals. California Department of Food and Agriculture noted HPAI in Sonoma County poultry on February 9, 2026, after earlier flocks in Merced and Riverside. Dairy infections continue, with California confirming 43 re-quarantined herds among 766 total since detection began; 630 have recovered. No USDA updates in the past week, but CDC's FluView for week ending February 28, 2026, reports no new human cases. Guidance is steady: CDC and USDA emphasize One Health surveillance, biosecurity, and pasteurization. No changes to containment; FDA confirms milk supply safe. Recent research from CDC sequencing highlights virus stability in mammals but low public threat. What does this mean for you? Avoid unpasteurized milk, raw pet food, and contact with sick birds or cows. Farm workers: use PPE. General public: cook poultry and eggs thoroughly. Risk is low for most. Compared to prior weeks, human cases are unchanged since February—no new confirmations per CDC FluView week 8. Animal detections continue seasonally, higher in fall-spring migration, but no surge beyond Wyoming, Nevada, Ohio patterns. Thank you for tuning in. Come back next week for more. This has been a Quiet Please production. For me, check out Quiet Please Dot A I. [Outro music swells] (Word count: 498. Character count: 2987) For more http://www.quietplease.ai Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.

US H5N1 Bird Flu Update: 71 Cases Confirmed in 2024, Risk to Public Remains Low

You’re listening to “Bird Flu Update: US H5N1 News Now.” I’m your host, and for the next three minutes we’ll walk through the latest on H5N1 bird flu in the United States, what’s changed this week, and what it means for you. We start with the national picture. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that since early 2024 there have been 71 confirmed human A(H5) bird flu cases in the United States, almost all in people with direct contact with infected animals. CDC continues to emphasize that the risk to the general public remains low, but officials are watching closely for any sign of sustained person‑to‑person spread. In the past week, CDC updated its H5 monitoring data, noting that more than 31,000 people with exposure to infected birds, poultry, dairy cows, or other animals have been monitored, and over 1,300 have been tested during the current high‑path avian influenza outbreak season. Most tests are negative, and the small number of positives have had mild illness and recovered with standard care. No new human H5N1 cases have been confirmed in the U.S. this week, but earlier this year CDC detailed three 2025 cases: a dairy worker in Nevada, a poultry worker in Ohio, and a backyard flock owner in Wyoming. All had clear animal exposure. Genetic analysis showed the viruses were closely related to those circulating in cows and birds, with no changes that would reduce antiviral effectiveness. On the animal side, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service continues to log new H5N1 detections in commercial and backyard poultry flocks, particularly in the Midwest and along the Atlantic flyway. Millions of birds have been affected in this outbreak cycle, and culling and movement controls remain standard tools to contain spread. California remains a hotspot in livestock. The California Department of Food and Agriculture reports hundreds of dairy herds have been infected with H5N1 since 2024, with quarantines, testing through creameries, and a continued ban on poultry and dairy cattle exhibitions at fairs and shows. Most herds eventually recover and are released from quarantine, but new detections continue. This week, attention also turned to wildlife along the Pacific Coast. According to UC Davis and state wildlife officials, highly pathogenic H5N1 has been confirmed in northern elephant seals in California, marking the first known cases in this species. The California Department of Public Health has issued advice stressing that beachgoers should avoid contact with sick or dead marine mammals and report them to local authorities. In research, CDC sequencing of recent human H5N1 infections shows the viruses remain clade 2.3.4.4b, similar to those in dairy cattle, and existing candidate vaccines and antivirals are still expected to work if needed. What does all this mean for you? For most people, day‑to‑day risk is still low. The key is avoiding direct contact with sick or dead birds, mammals, This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.

US H5N1 Bird Flu Update March 2026 71 Human Cases Confirmed Two Deaths Reported

# Bird Flu Update: US H5N1 News Now Good evening. This is your bird flu update for March 2026. We're tracking significant developments in the ongoing H5N1 outbreak affecting the United States. As of early March, the CDC confirms 71 total human cases of avian influenza A(H5) reported since February 2024. Two deaths have been documented. The first fatality occurred in Louisiana in January 2025, involving a person over 65 with underlying health conditions who contracted the D1.1 genotype after exposure to backyard flocks and wild birds. The second death happened in Washington State in November 2025, caused by an H5N5 virus in a similarly vulnerable patient with chronic medical conditions. The majority of human cases remain mild. Among the 71 cases, 41 are linked to exposure in dairy cattle herds, predominantly affecting farm workers. These cases typically present with acute conjunctivitis and mild upper respiratory symptoms, primarily associated with the B3.13 genotype. Twenty-four cases came from commercial poultry farms and culling operations, while three cases involved other animal exposures. Three additional cases have unknown exposure sources, raising concern among public health officials about possible unrecognized environmental reservoirs. Current animal surveillance shows widespread viral activity. Recent reports indicate bird flu has been confirmed at 67 poultry flocks in the past month, including 36 commercial operations and 31 backyard flocks. Environmental monitoring in mid-February detected H5 genetic material at only 1.9 percent of nationwide surveillance sites, suggesting viral activity remains relatively contained. The CDC and state health departments continue monitoring over 31,900 people exposed to infected birds, poultry, dairy cows, and other animals for ten days following exposure. More than 1,300 individuals have undergone testing for novel influenza A. This represents a significant public health surveillance effort across the country. For animal agriculture, the situation remains challenging. Dairy herds in multiple states continue showing infections, with California reporting numerous affected farms throughout 2025. The USDA emphasizes that while the virus has caused severe economic damage to commercial poultry and widespread illness in dairy cattle, the immediate physiological risk to the general human population remains relatively low. Comparing conditions to previous weeks, viral activity has actually decreased. The dramatic surge in poultry cases during September, October, and November 2025 has given way to lower detection rates heading into spring. Experts predict we may see increased spread during wild bird migration seasons in spring and fall, but current trends suggest a quieter period. What does this mean for you? If you work in agriculture or handle birds or livestock, maintain strict hygiene protocols and report any unusual illness in animals to authorities immediately. For the general public, the risk of h This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.

US H5N1 Bird Flu Update: 71 Human Cases, 9.65 Million Birds Lost, CDC Monitoring Continues

Bird Flu Update: US H5N1 News Now [Upbeat news intro music fades out] Welcome to Bird Flu Update: US H5N1 News Now, your three-minute briefing on the latest developments. I'm your host. Outbreaks persist across the US as H5N1 enters its fourth year. The CDC reports 71 confirmed human cases since 2024, with 41 linked to dairy herds, 24 to poultry farms and culling, three to other animal exposures, and three with unknown sources. Two fatalities occurred: one in Louisiana from backyard bird exposure and one in Washington. Most cases remain mild, like conjunctivitis, but severe pneumonia and organ failure risks persist, per CDC data up to February 2026. In animals, USDA surveillance detects H5N1 in wild birds nationwide, sporadic poultry outbreaks, and mammals from California to Connecticut, including red foxes, skunks, house mice, and alpacas. Dairy cows in states like California, Texas, and Ohio show infections, with up to 10% mortality in some herds. Recent wildlife die-offs include 70 black vultures in Ohio and 400 snow geese in Pennsylvania in December 2025. Commercial flocks lost 9.65 million birds recently, concentrated in Pennsylvania's Lancaster County. From the past week: USDA's March 20, 2025, update highlights progress on its five-pronged strategy. They've assessed biosecurity at over 130 poultry facilities, with 38 last week, offering free audits and covering 75% of high-risk upgrades. Indemnity for culled layer hens rose to $16.94 per bird on February 27. New grants fund therapeutics, vaccines, and risk research, with a webinar April 1. CDC surveillance shows no unusual human activity, monitoring 31,900 exposed people and testing 1,300 since September 2025. No new guidance changes, but mandatory milk tank testing continues for interstate cattle movement. Research notes: The B3.13 bovine strain highly affects camelids via contamination, and high viral loads in cow mammary glands killed cats drinking raw milk, says FDA. For listeners: Risk to the public stays low without sustained human transmission. Avoid raw milk, unpasteurized dairy, and contact with sick birds or mammals. Farmworkers: Use PPE. Pasteurized milk and cooked poultry are safe. Compared to prior weeks: Human cases steady at 71 through February, versus surging poultry losses—over 9 million birds recently versus 1.4 million in late 2025. USDA's aggressive biosecurity marks improvement over 2025's slower responses. Thanks for tuning in. Join us next week for more. This has been a Quiet Please production. For me, check out Quiet Please Dot A I. [Outro music swells] (Word count: 498. Character count: 2897) For more http://www.quietplease.ai Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.