Category: Avian Influenza
New mutations help the H5N1 bird flu virus infect cows but not people
Science News H5N1 bird flu viruses have acquired a molecular trick that makes them more easily infect mammary glands in cattle, but this adaptation does not appear to affect humans. To infect cells, influenza viruses latch on to certain sugars decorating cell surfaces. Some H5N1 viruses have picked up mutations that allow them to grab […]
Apr 15, 2026
Avian influenza and coronaviruses in live animal and wet markets in Laos: prevalence and public health considerations
Frontiers Background: Live animal and wet markets (LWM) serve as critical interfaces where humans closely interact with domestic and peri-domestic animals, facilitating the spillover of zoonotic pathogens. Previous outbreaks of avian influenza viruses (AIV) and coronaviruses (CoV) linked to these markets underscore their significant public health risks. Despite the high density of LWM and historical […]
Apr 8, 2026
Novel antiviral fogging tech to be tested against bird flu
Feedstuffs A research team led by Purdue University, along with partners Entomol and 1,4Group, has been awarded $2 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service to evaluate a novel antiviral fogging technology to combat high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), which remains a serious threat to poultry health and the […]
Apr 8, 2026
Two years after it emerged, ‘cow flu’ is still circulating—and baffling scientists
Science Researchers still aren’t sure how H5N1 influenza spreads between cows and from farm to farm. After 2 years, the U.S. outbreak of the H5N1 influenza virus in cattle appears to be waning, easing fears that the virus could cause long-lasting damage to the dairy industry or mutate into a form that could cause a […]
Apr 8, 2026
U.S. facing largest outbreak of bird flu in its history, including backyard flocks in Kentucky
NPR The U.S. is facing the largest outbreak of bird flu in its history. As birds migrate this spring, the virus can spread along major flyways through droppings, contaminated water, or direct contact, infecting backyard flocks, pet birds, and commercial poultry. Anyone who raises birds should understand the risks and how to protect their poultry. Dr. Chelsey Shivley, is a […]
Apr 8, 2026
Studying How Bird Flu Spreads Through the Air
Respiratory Therapy University of Michigan researchers are leading a project to discover how the bird flu virus degrades in the air and how engineering solutions can mitigate its spread. The $2 million grant from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service aims to answer fundamental questions about how long the virus remains […]
Apr 8, 2026
The Hamptons Has a Bird Flu Problem
NYT This winter, hundreds of dead geese fell around Georgica Pond. No one knew how to dispose of the infected bodies, so a local landscaper just winged it. Georgica Pond is the brackish coastal pond in East Hampton, Long Island, around which sit the summer homes of the filmmaker Steven Spielberg and the hip-hop mogul […]
Apr 8, 2026
Deadly virus first detected in Bay Area park found in Central California
SF Gate A strain of the deadly avian flu detected in Ano Nuevo State Park last month, with cases confirmed in California marine mammals for the first time ever, has been documented in another new county hundreds of miles south of the initial outbreak. On Thursday, UC Davis’ Institute for Pandemic Insights reported a case of HPAI H5N1 was confirmed in a dead […]
Apr 1, 2026
First European case of H9N2 bird flu reported in Italy – what you need to know
The Conversation The first human case of H9N2 influenza virus (bird flu) has been reported in Europe. A human infection was recorded by the Italian Ministry of Health on March 25, 2026. As an influenza virologist, I can explain what this means and why I am not particularly worried by it – yet. What do we know […]
Apr 1, 2026
Cambodia reports child infected with H5N1 avian influenza
Vietnam News According to a press release issued by the ministry, the child tested positive for the H5N1 bird flu virus on March 29, after laboratory testing conducted by the National Institute of Public Health. The patient lives in Thnob Thmei village, Beng commune, Banteay Ampil district. Authorities reported that chickens and ducks in the […]
Apr 1, 2026