Welcome to H5N1 Global Scan: Avian Flu Worldwide, a Quiet Please production. Today, we take you around the globe for a fast-paced, factual update on the worldwide spread and impact of H5N1 avian influenza as of November 2025.

Since 2020, H5N1 has affected every continent except Australia. The most severe impacts have hit North and South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. South America saw mass die-offs of wild birds, sea lions, and elephant seals, with Argentina reporting over 70 percent mortality in Southern elephant seal pups and an estimated 600,000 wild birds lost since 2022—drastically disrupting coastal ecosystems, according to data summarized in Wikipedia’s 2020–2025 H5N1 outbreak review.

North America’s experience has been notable for “spillover” events, especially in the United States and Canada. USDA and CDC reports detail H5N1 outbreaks in poultry, wild birds, and for the first time, widespread infections of dairy cattle in the US, leading to egg and milk shortages. By mid-2025, the CDC reports approximately 70 human infections, usually mild but including the country’s first H5N1 death. Human cases are mostly linked to direct animal contact; however, research cited by CIDRAP and CDC notes asymptomatic cases, raising concerns about surveillance gaps.

In Europe, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control highlights predominance of H5N1 in wild birds, with fewer poultry farm outbreaks compared to past seasons. Countries like Germany and Hungary have culled hundreds of thousands of birds. Europe’s risk assessment remains that for the general public, infection risk is low, but it is higher for those working with animals.

Asia continues to grapple with both rural and urban outbreaks. Cambodia, China, and India have reported clusters of human cases, regularly tied to exposure to sick poultry. The Food and Agriculture Organization’s April 2024 review highlighted genetic reassortment in Southeast Asia, signaling the virus’s potential to adapt and spreading across species barriers, raising flags for pandemic preparedness, as emphasized in a Nature article from October 2025.

Africa has recorded fewer human cases, but outbreaks in poultry and wild bird populations have led to trade bans and culling measures in major poultry-exporting countries. The FAO’s September 2025 global update tracks over 300 HPAI outbreaks/events globally since late August alone, underscoring persistent cross-border animal health challenges.

International response has centered around coordination and transparency. The World Health Organization and FAO have repeatedly called for enhanced surveillance, with WHO cautioning that no sustained human-to-human transmission has occurred, but the virus’s ability to infect mammals and reassort genetically requires vigilance.

Vaccine development is making progress, with several candidate vaccines for poultry and humans in late-stage trials. The United States and Europe are prioritizing stockpiling and rapid-response agreements, while China and India focus on local production for at-risk poultry sectors.

National containment approaches vary: the US and many European nations use mass culling, trade restrictions, and enhanced worker surveillance. Southeast Asian responses emphasize community engagement and compensation for farmers. The global consensus is strong: aggressive containment, broad-based scientific cooperation, and nimble supply chains are crucial.

Thank you for tuning in to H5N1 Global Scan: Avian Flu Worldwide. For more insights, join us next week. This has been a Quiet Please production—visit Quiet Please dot AI for more.

For more http://www.quietplease.ai

Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta

This content was created in partnership and with the...

Welcome to H5N1 Global Scan: Avian Flu Worldwide, a special international focus by Quiet Please. I’m your host, and in just three minutes, we’ll explore the global scope of the ongoing avian influenza threat, the H5N1 outbreak, and what countries are doing to combat its spread as of October 2025.

H5N1 is now present on every continent except Australia, with the clade 2.3.4.4b responsible for major outbreaks in birds, mammals, and even humans. Antarctica witnessed its first discovery of the virus in 2023, alarming scientists with the potential for catastrophic impacts among previously unaffected wildlife. In South America, the virus has decimated wild populations, with Argentina reporting a 70 percent mortality rate among southern elephant seal pups and Chile facing mass deaths of sea lions and swans. In North America, the United States confirmed over 70 human H5N1 cases since 2024, the majority mild, but including the first American death from bird flu in Louisiana. Millions of poultry have been culled, impacting egg supplies and the agricultural sector. Canada and Mexico have both confirmed human cases, while outbreaks in livestock, especially dairy cattle, remain a significant emerging issue.

In Europe, H5N1 has affected 31 countries between December 2024 and March 2025, predominately in wild waterfowl and poultry. Germany reported mass crane deaths and extensive culling efforts, while the United Kingdom found H5N1 in both poultry workers and, notably, in sheep and cows, raising concerns about cross-species transmission. In Asia, China has seen several outbreaks in wild birds and humans alike, while India and Southeast Asian countries such as Cambodia and Vietnam have each reported confirmed human fatalities. Southeast Asia remains a hotspot, with FAO warning about reassortant viruses combining genes from multiple lineages, indicating ongoing evolution and regional spread.

The World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization routinely emphasize the importance of global coordination, surveillance, and sharing of epidemiological data. Both agencies note that, despite widespread virus circulation in animals, human infections remain rare, and there is still no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission. However, FAO filings from April 2024 warn that genetic mixing and the broadening host range demand continued vigilance.

International research initiatives have ramped up since the virus’s spread into new species, especially cattle. The CDC and the Friedrich Loeffler Institute in Germany are actively studying transmission dynamics in mammals, while multi-national collaborations are focusing on rapid vaccine development. Several candidate vaccines have shown promise in laboratory and field trials. Uptake and availability, however, vary, with North America and Europe conducting limited poultry vaccinations, while Asian nations, led by China, have made targeted immunization a cornerstone of their containment strategies.

Global efforts at coordination are hampered by cross-border wildlife migration, inconsistent national reporting, and trade challenges. Outbreaks have led to export bans across South America and Asia, causing significant disruptions in food supply chains. The European Union, United States, and many Asian nations have enforced strict biosecurity measures, temporary bans, and intensive surveillance along trade routes.

Different countries pursue varied containment strategies. The United States and Canada focus on rapid detection and mass culling, while the United Kingdom combines culling with targeted vaccination and occupational health surveillance. China employs intensive farm monitoring and vaccination programs. Latin American countries prioritize wildlife tracking due to high-impact outbreaks in marine mammals.

In summary, the H5N1 crisis highlights the need for vigilant global cooperation, advanced surveillance,...

Welcome to "H5N1 Global Scan: Avian Flu Worldwide," a three-minute podcast examining the global impact of the avian flu.

Since 2020, H5N1 outbreaks have been reported on every continent except Australia. The virus has killed over 600,000 wild birds and 50,000 mammals in South America alone. In Europe, detections have been significant, particularly in wild birds like European herring gulls. The virus has also spread among dairy cattle in the United States.

The World Health Organization (WHO) notes over 890 human infections with H5N1 since 2003. The virus remains a significant threat due to its genetic evolutions, such as the 2.3.4.4b clade, which has enhanced its ability to infect a broader range of species. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has emphasized the need for cross-border coordination to address the spread of avian influenza.

Internationally, trade impacts have been substantial, with significant poultry culls and bans on exports in several countries. The status of global vaccine development remains focused on avian influenza, although no widespread human vaccines are available yet. Approaches to containment vary by country, with some focusing on extensive culling and surveillance, while others emphasize public awareness and protective measures.

Thank you for tuning in to this episode of "H5N1 Global Scan." Join us next week for more global insights. This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, visit Quiet Please Dot A I.

For more http://www.quietplease.ai

Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta

This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

Welcome to H5N1 Global Scan: Avian Flu Worldwide, a Quiet Please production. I’m your host, and today we’re taking you inside the latest wave of highly pathogenic avian influenza circling the globe, with vital updates from every continent, major science breakthroughs, and what it all means for public health and global trade.

Let’s start with a global snapshot. Since 2020, H5N1—a subtype of avian influenza—has swept every continent except Australia, according to recent analyses. Outbreaks have devastated wild bird and poultry populations, and increasingly, mammals—including sea lions, seals, and even livestock. For the first time, H5N1 reached Antarctica in late 2023, sparking fears for vulnerable wildlife that have never faced avian flu. In South America alone, over 600,000 wild birds and 50,000 mammals are estimated to have died since 2022, with seal pup mortality rates reaching 96% in some Argentine regions. Meanwhile, in North America, the United States has culled tens of millions of chickens, triggering egg shortages and export bans. Europe has seen mass die-offs in cranes and repeated outbreaks on poultry farms, while Asia and Africa continue to report both animal and human cases.

The human toll remains concerning but, so far, contained. Since January, at least 26 confirmed human cases have been reported globally, with infections occurring after close contact with infected birds or mammals. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes 70 cases in the U.S. since 2024, mostly in workers exposed to dairy cattle or poultry. Fatalities have been reported in the United States, Mexico, India, and Cambodia, among others, with Cambodia experiencing a recent cluster in children. The World Health Organization reports that, historically, nearly half of all confirmed H5N1 human cases have been fatal, highlighting the virus’s continued risk.

Scientific research is accelerating. The WHO and FAO are tracking genetic changes in the virus, which is evolving rapidly, in some cases mixing genes from older and newer strains, creating new challenges for vaccine development and pandemic preparedness. The main virus driving this outbreak—H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b—has shown an unsettling ability to infect a broader range of species, including mammals, according to virology reports. This genetic shuffling, or reassortment, has led to new variants, complicating both surveillance and vaccine matching. In Southeast Asia, for example, the FAO has documented reassortant viruses with genes from both older and current lineages implicated in human cases.

International coordination is ramping up. The WHO and FAO are leading efforts to improve early detection, share genetic data, and coordinate rapid response, but gaps remain. Cross-border trade has been disrupted, with countries imposing export bans on poultry and poultry products, as seen in Argentina and the Philippines. The Pan American Health Organization reports that 19 countries in the Americas have logged over 5,000 outbreaks since 2022, many in wild bird populations along major migration flyways. The risk of further spread via migratory birds and international trade is real, and experts urge stricter biosecurity and surveillance, especially in regions where animal and human populations live in close proximity.

Vaccine development is a top priority, but progress is uneven. Several countries are testing bird and livestock vaccines, while human vaccine candidates are in development. Yet, matching vaccines to circulating strains is a moving target. The global vaccine landscape is fragmented—some nations prioritize mass culling and biosecurity, while others, like China, invest heavily in poultry vaccination. The European Union, meanwhile, is exploring ring vaccination around outbreak zones. These different approaches reflect varying risk assessments and resource levels, but also highlight the need for a harmonized global strategy.Show more...