This is Bird Flu Update: US H5N1 News Now—a three-minute news-focused podcast bringing you the latest on bird flu across the United States.

As of October 25th, 2025, bird flu activity continues to surge both in animals and, more rarely, in humans. The US Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has confirmed dozens of new H5N1 avian flu cases in wild waterfowl across various states, including mallard ducks in New Hampshire, black vultures in Indiana, Kentucky, Utah, and West Virginia, and Canada geese in Illinois, Michigan, and Arizona. Other notable detections include a bald eagle in Wisconsin and multiple species in Montana, Oregon, Minnesota, and Texas. The recent count shows increasing prevalence as migratory waterfowl head south for winter, amplifying exposure risk in new regions.

Since 2022, there have been 76 confirmed human H5 infections in the Americas, including two fatalities. The most recent update by the CDC, as of July 7th, confirmed 70 US human cases, with the majority linked to exposure in dairy herds and poultry operations. California leads with 38 total cases, including 36 associated with cattle. Other affected states include Colorado, Iowa, Louisiana—which reported the first US H5N1 death—Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. CDC data is now updated monthly, with animal outbreak statistics primarily available on the USDA website.

In domestic animals, highly pathogenic H5N1 has now been detected in livestock across 18 states and over 1,761 affected commercial and backyard flocks. The EPA and USDA report that while mortality among cattle remains low and animals with supported care can recover, poultry farms have experienced greater impact. So far in 2025, more than 2.2 million turkeys have been affected, according to American Farm Bureau Federation analysis, resulting in the lowest turkey inventories in forty years. Egg-laying flocks are still recovering from earlier, severe outbreaks in the year—an important factor as Thanksgiving approaches, with expected increased demand and potential price hikes anticipated in stores.

Research continues on the risks of H5N1 crossing between species and the potential for adaptation to mammals. The Pan American Health Organization highlights the virus’s spread to non-avian animals, including marine and terrestrial mammals. Notably, USDA identified H5N1 in a black bear in Colorado and regular detections in other mammals have raised concern among scientists.

Federal guidance from CDC and USDA has evolved over the past week. The CDC streamlined its reporting cadence to reflect routine influenza updates. USDA’s containment focus includes expanded surveillance of wild birds, reinforced biosecurity in agriculture, and continued rapid response to new detections. Official recommendations advise poultry workers, farmers, and those exposed to wild birds or livestock to use personal protective equipment and maintain strict hygiene. For consumers, public health experts stress that cooking poultry and eggs thoroughly eliminates risk from food—the primary danger is to those directly handling infected animals.

Compared to previous weeks, this late-fall spike comes earlier and harder than last year. Outbreaks in turkeys and chickens are nearly 20 times higher for turkeys and twice as high for egg-laying hens as during the same period in 2024. This is straining supplies and driving up prices, especially as biosecurity measures established after last year’s wave are put to the test.

For listeners, the key takeaway is to stay informed and attentive but not alarmed. The direct risk to the general public remains low unless you work with or are exposed to infected birds or livestock. Follow official guidance, and for those in agriculture, continue rigorous precaution. Visit CDC and USDA channels for updated advisories.

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