Category: Avian Influenza
The Latest on Bird Flu Research, Infected Cats, and More
Scientific American No new human cases of avian influenza have been reported, and poultry infections are low so far in March. But infections in cats are continuing, and new research is raising concerns about the virus. Human cases: No new cases reported. There have been 70 confirmed and seven probable cases since 2024. Poultry cases: February saw […]
Mar 12, 2025
Are We on the Cusp of a Major Bird Flu Outbreak?
Harvard Med Scientists weigh in on the spread of H5N1 and highlight clues that portend what might come next. Bird flu, or H5N1 avian influenza, has been circulating across North America since 2022, infecting birds, livestock, wildlife, pets, and humans. Despite 70 documented human cases, there are no known instances of human-to-human transmission — but […]
Mar 12, 2025
Health Secretary RFK Jr. Calls for Intensive Testing of Bird Flu Drugs on Poultry
Bloomberg Therapeutic drugs should be “intensively” tested on US poultry flocks infected with bird flu, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said, arguing that the medications could help identify treatments for human cases. In an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity broadcast on Tuesday night, Kennedy said he opposed mass vaccination and culling as a strategy […]
Mar 12, 2025
H5N1 flu is now killing birds on the continent of Antarctica
New Scientist A highly pathogenic strain of bird flu is spreading south along the Antarctic Peninsula and could devastate populations of penguins and other seabirds. H5N1 bird flu has been found in dead birds on Antarctica for the first time. The deadly strain of bird flu is currently spreading south along the Antarctic Peninsula and […]
Mar 12, 2025
Two domestic cats infected with H5N1 virus in Michigan
Detroit News Experts are urging cat owners to refrain from feeding their pets raw meat or unpasteurized milk after the bird flu virus was detected in two indoor domestic cats in Michigan. The Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory said cats appear to be highly susceptible to the HPAI A(H5N1) strain of avian influenza and “increased vigilance […]
Mar 11, 2025
Avian flu was in Oregon wastewater weeks before state’s first bird outbreaks, study shows
CIDRAP A retrospective analysis reveals that H5 avian flu surfaced in Oregon wastewater weeks before the state’s first outbreak in poultry and wild birds and 2 years before the first outbreak in US cattle. A team led by Oregon State University researchers evaluated 551 influenza A virus–positive wastewater samples from 20 sites from September 2021 to July […]
Mar 5, 2025
USDA Unveils Blueprint to Combat the Avian Influenza Outbreak
AgNetWest Continue reading USDA will expand its highly successful Wildlife Biosecurity Assessments to producers across the nation, beginning with egg-layer facilities, to safeguard farms from the cause of 83% of HPAI cases: transmission from wild birds. These additional safety measures have proven to minimize flu cases; the approximately 150 facilities that follow these protocols have […]
Mar 5, 2025
New Jersey: First Ever Feline Bird Flu Case
Action News A cat in New Jersey was euthanized after becoming severely ill from a confirmed case of bird flu, the state’s health department said Friday. The cat was not exposed to infected poultry, livestock, raw milk or meat. It was allowed to roam outdoors, so it’s not known if it had exposure to wild birds […]
Mar 5, 2025
To the Pandemic Czar: Are We Prepared to Talk About Bird Flu?
MedPage Today Effective communication across all levels of government is as important as a vaccine. The threat of a widespread human outbreak of bird flu is on the horizon. And, with it, the potential for a pandemic. The next pandemic — whether from the H5N1 strain circulating since 2022 or something else — may not […]
Mar 4, 2025
Herding cats: It’s past time to include pets in disease surveillance
STAT H5N1 is just one reason why. As veterinarians, flu scientists, and biosecurity experts, we have watched with growing concern the rise in H5N1 avian influenza in cats. Since 2022, more than 100 domesticated cats in the United States have had confirmed infections — some house pets, some barn cats, some feral — with high mortality, although […]
Mar 4, 2025