Welcome to "H5N1 Global Scan: Avian Flu Worldwide," your essential international focus podcast examining the global impact of the H5N1 avian influenza on this October day in 2025.

Since 2020, H5N1 outbreaks have swept every continent except Australia, with the World Health Organization noting over 960 confirmed human cases and a case fatality rate approaching 48 percent. While the vast majority of human cases result from direct contact with infected animals, sporadic outbreaks in dairy cattle, domestic pets, and wildlife are rising, reflecting the virus’s genetic diversification and adaptability.

Let’s break down the situation by continent. In the Americas, the Pan American Health Organization reports more than 4,700 official animal outbreaks since 2022, mainly in poultry, wild birds, and a growing number in mammals such as dairy cattle. The United States alone has recorded nearly 1,000 affected dairy herds and dozens of human cases in 2025, leading to significant losses in egg and poultry production and widespread trade restrictions. Canada has confirmed cases in both poultry and wild birds, as well as severe human illness among young adults.

Moving to Europe, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control highlights ongoing outbreaks in wild waterfowl and poultry from central to southeastern regions. While major outbreaks have been largely contained within agricultural settings, the virus’s spread to domestic cats and even sheep underscores the expanding host range and risk to farming systems. Fortunately, the risk of human-to-human transmission remains low, though the risk to those exposed occupationally or in affected regions is low to moderate.

Across Asia, H5N1 continuously circulates within poultry and wild bird populations, with Cambodia, China, and Vietnam reporting clusters of human illness and deaths in early 2025. The latest viral lineages show genetic mixing between older strains and the prevalent 2.3.4.4b clade, complicating surveillance and response efforts. India and the Philippines have seen both fatal human cases and severe losses in poultry agriculture, prompting bans on export and emergency culling.

In Africa and the Middle East, widespread poultry outbreaks persist, but underreporting remains a challenge. The FAO attributes this in part to limited surveillance infrastructure—hampering both local containment and global biosecurity.

Global coordination is spearheaded by the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization, both emphasizing the critical need for transparent reporting, cross-border surveillance, and rapid response. WHO calls on governments to strengthen veterinary infrastructure and establish clear pathways for reporting human cases. The FAO supports international research collaborations, focusing on the genetic evolution of the virus, vaccine development, and risk communication.

Trade impacts have been severe globally. The culling of millions of poultry and bans on exports from affected countries have led to shortages and economic stress, especially in low-income regions.

On vaccines, international teams in the U.S., China, and the EU are advancing veterinary vaccines targeting clade 2.3.4.4b. Human vaccine candidates are in late-stage trials, with unprecedented cooperation to share genetic sequencing and streamline approval. National approaches differ: the U.S. focuses on aggressive containment and culling, while the EU leans on enhanced surveillance and movement controls. Southeast Asia combines rapid culls with rural vaccination campaigns.

As the global community remains vigilant, coordinated research, surveillance, and response efforts are vital. Thank you for tuning in to "H5N1 Global Scan: Avian Flu Worldwide." Be sure to join us next week for more essential international health updates. This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out Quiet...