Bird Flu Update: US H5N1 News Now

This is Bird Flu Update: US H5N1 News Now, your weekly source for the latest bird flu developments across the United States.

As of October 10, 2025, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports a total of 70 confirmed and probable human H5N1 cases nationally since 2022. The majority remain among workers exposed to infected dairy cattle and poultry. California leads with 38 human cases, primarily linked to dairy herds, while Colorado has recorded 10, mostly from poultry farms. Louisiana suffered the first U.S. fatality due to H5N1 earlier this year. The CDC emphasizes that the current public health risk for the general population is still considered low but ongoing animal exposure continues to generate new cases in agricultural regions. Surveillance and monitoring remain vigilant, especially among individuals working directly with affected animals.

Turning to animal outbreaks, the USDA and state agencies have confirmed new H5N1 cases in poultry over the past week. Nebraska reported its first case in dairy cattle last month, and commercial farms in Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin have all detected fresh outbreaks in poultry, adding to a rise seen throughout fall migration. Minnesota alone documented eight distinct poultry farm outbreaks since mid-September. These outbreaks are not restricted to the Midwest: recent USDA reports list significant detections in commercial bird flocks in Arizona, South Dakota, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The total number of birds affected exceeds hundreds of thousands, with some estimates reporting over 600,000 infections in early October.

Containment and monitoring efforts continue at federal and state levels. The CDC updated its reporting cadence in July to consolidate bird flu data with routine influenza updates, while the USDA shifted its reporting for animal cases to daily updates on their main website. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service urges all bird owners to strengthen biosecurity, stressing the need to keep wild birds away from domestic flocks and minimize inter-premises transmission, especially during peak migration seasons.

Substantial research advances are shaping the bird flu response. A recent University of Minnesota study found that live H5N1 avian flu virus can survive in raw-milk cheese for up to six months, underlining ongoing concerns about foodborne exposure. Researchers across the country are tracking the movement of H5N1 through wild birds, dairy cattle, and backyard flocks. While human-to-human transmission has not been documented, the ongoing detection of the virus in mammals and commercial herds remains a point of close observation.

Compared to previous weeks and seasons, this autumn’s bird flu activity is arriving earlier and spreading more aggressively, according to analysis by the Rocky Mountain Raptor Program. The interior of the country, previously less affected than coastal states, now faces heavy outbreaks. The CDC and USDA warn that the number of confirmed cases may fluctuate with migration patterns, and proactive containment is critical.

For listeners concerned about personal risk, public health officials reiterate that the threat to the general population is low. However, those working in poultry and dairy should follow the latest safety guidelines, report potential exposures, and use personal protective equipment as recommended. Consumers are advised to avoid raw milk products and ensure proper handling of poultry and dairy goods.

Thank you for joining us for Bird Flu Update: US H5N1 News Now. Please tune in next week for ongoing coverage. This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out Quiet Please Dot A I.

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