Category: Avian Influenza
Vietnam Destroys Thousands of Poultry Following H5N1 Bird Flu Outbreaks
Authorities in Dien Bien province, Vietnam, have culled approximately 5,000 poultry after two outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza A/H5N1 were confirmed in Thanh Yen Commune during May. The first outbreak affected a flock of 1,500 ducks, while a second outbreak involved 3,500 chickens and ducks at a nearby household. In response, local officials suspended […]
May 27, 2026
Researchers Highlight Bird Flu Data Gaps Threatening Wildlife Conservation
A new paper published in Wildlife Monographs examines critical gaps in scientific understanding of how highly pathogenic avian influenza spreads among wild bird populations and the growing threat it poses to vulnerable species. University of Rhode Island researcher Johanna Harvey and collaborators reviewed how migration patterns, seasonal behavior, and species interactions influence bird flu transmission […]
May 27, 2026
New Monograph Examines U.S. Bird Flu Risks and Wildlife Transmission
A University of Maryland-led research team has published a comprehensive review examining how highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) spreads among wild bird populations and the risks it poses to wildlife and domestic poultry. The report synthesizes decades of research on migratory bird behavior, species biology, and environmental factors that influence how the virus moves through […]
May 27, 2026
Norway reports Europe’s first case of bird flu in a polar bear
The Local The H5N5 variant of the virus was detected in samples taken from a male bear about one year old and a walrus found dead in mid-May on the icy archipelago, around 1,000 km (600 miles) from the North Pole, the Norwegian Veterinary Institute said. “The results are part of a trend in which […]
May 20, 2026
AVMA: CDC confirms cat-to-human transmission of avian influenza
AVMA A public health investigation documented the transmission of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAI, more specifically avian influenza type A H5N1) from a domestic cat to a human, but health officials maintain that the risk remains low. Last spring, investigators with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH) and Centers for Disease […]
May 13, 2026
UK Leads Global Bird Flu Vaccine Trial
MedScape The UK is recruiting 3000 of the 4000 volunteers needed for a major international trial of an mRNA vaccine against bird flu, as experts warn that H5N1 remains a credible pandemic threat. H5 influenza, or avian/bird flu, remains a pandemic threat, experts said. The virus has been circulating in wild birds — and domestic poultry — […]
May 6, 2026
How an H5N1 Outbreak in Elephant Seals Can Inform Pandemic Readiness
The Scientist Regular surveillance and rapid sequencing in coastal wildlife help researchers identify viral mutations and assess their pandemic potential. The first sign that something was wrong came during a survey walk in Año Nuevo State Park, a stretch of beach along the central coast of California. In January 2026, researchers at the University of […]
May 6, 2026
Surge in HPAI infections attributed to wild-bird spillover
AVMA Poultry losses alone surpass 200 million since outbreak started in 2022. The U.S. outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI, more specifically avian influenza type A H5N1), is experiencing a resurgence among commercial poultry operations, driven largely by spillover from migrating wild birds, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The threat of infection […]
May 6, 2026
Dairy Farms May Transmit H5N1 Virus Through Multiple Sources
Morning Ag Study suggests transmission is not limited to direct contact with contaminated milk. The H5N1 strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in over 700 herds of dairy cows in California, the largest dairy-producing state in the U.S. A study published May 5th in the open-access journal PLOS Biology led by Seema S. Lakdawala […]
May 6, 2026
Bats might be the next bird flu wild card
TapInto Vampire bats in Peru show signs of past H5N1 infection. Bats have become the latest mammals susceptible to H5N1, the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus responsible for bird flu. In Peru, over a dozen vampire bats have been found carrying H5N1 antibodies, indicating exposure to the virus, researchers report November 11 at bioRxiv.org. The finding […]
Apr 29, 2026