Bird Flu Update: US H5N1 News Now

This is “Bird Flu Update: US H5N1 News Now,” bringing you the latest national developments on bird flu as we head into early October 2025.

Across the United States this week, H5N1 bird flu activity remains high. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the national total of confirmed and probable human cases has reached 70 since the first U.S. detection in 2022, with 41 linked to dairy herds, 24 to poultry farms and culling operations, two to other animal exposures, and three with unknown exposure sources. California continues to be the focal point, reporting 38 cases, primarily among dairy workers exposed to infected cattle. Tragically, Louisiana recorded the nation’s first H5N1-related fatality in December, and overall, there has been one confirmed human death in the United States.

For animal outbreaks, the pace has not slowed. The US Department of Agriculture reported this week two more H5N1 outbreaks among backyard poultry flocks—one in Montana and one in North Carolina—adding to over 3.8 million birds affected in the past month. Over the last 30 days, 27 poultry flocks, both commercial and backyard, have been hit, especially in Midwestern states. Surveillance of wild birds remains active, with more than 200 detections this week, and cases among mammals were also reported—a domestic cat in Los Angeles County, California, as well as house mice and ground squirrels in North Dakota.

Dairy cattle outbreaks remain a central concern. The USDA confirms 989 dairy herds in 17 states have experienced H5N1 infection since March 2024. California’s Central Valley continues to see significant impact, and Jefferson County, Wisconsin reported a new poultry flock infection just this week. The cumulative effect on livestock businesses is substantial, and the overall bovine mortality rate in affected herds stands near 15 percent.

Federal agencies have made several updates in recent days. The CDC has revised its bird flu updates, now integrating routine influenza data and switching to monthly reporting. The USDA has launched a national milk testing mandate beginning December 16, requiring all entities that handle raw milk to submit samples to officials, with initial efforts targeting six states including California, Colorado, Michigan, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, and Oregon. This builds on a previous April rule that mandated bird flu testing for cows crossing state lines.

Significant research findings continue to underline the risk. Preliminary genetic studies suggest the virus remains primarily animal-to-human in transmission, and experts emphasize there is currently no evidence of person-to-person spread in the United States. However, the CDC highlights that individuals working directly with sick animals—particularly dairy cattle and poultry—face moderate to high risk, while the general public’s risk is assessed as low.

For listeners, here’s what these developments mean: If you work with poultry, dairy, or wild birds, remain vigilant. Use personal protective equipment, report sick animals, and cooperate with local surveillance and containment efforts. For consumers, commercially processed milk and poultry products remain safe, but avoid consuming raw milk or undercooked poultry, particularly from backyard sources.

Compared to previous weeks, the case count in both humans and animals continues to rise steadily, but containment measures and surveillance have expanded. While new human cases are still primarily associated with animal exposure, federal and state agencies remain on high alert.

That wraps up this week’s Bird Flu Update: US H5N1 News Now. Thank you for tuning in. Join us next week for more on this evolving story. This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out Quiet Please Dot A I.

For more Back to Episodes