Avian Flu Outbreak Sweeps Across the US and Globally, Impacting Millions of Birds

Bird flu cases are surging across the US and globally, with over 4.8 million birds affected in January and early February alone, according to USDA data reported by Sentient Media. In the past week, major outbreaks hit a Colorado facility with 1.3 million birds culled, a Pennsylvania farm losing 1.5 million, and a presumptive positive H5 case confirmed on a commercial broiler farm in Maryland's Wicomico County on February 14, as announced by the Maryland Department of Agriculture.

Arkansas agencies warned on February 16 via KATV that the public should avoid wild birds after statewide detections in wild birds and backyard flocks, citing low but serious human risk with flu-like symptoms. Experts like Colorado State Veterinarian Maggie Baldwin emphasize enhanced biosecurity, though experts such as UC Davis's Maurice Pitesky call for better outward-facing surveillance of wild waterfowl habitats.

Internationally, Cambodia reported its first H5N1 human case of 2026 on February 14, Xinhua stated—a 30-year-old man from Kampot province who recovered after exposure to dead chickens at home. China's Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection noted three new human cases on February 11 per CIDRAP: two H9N2 and one H10N3, with symptom onsets in late December and January. H5N1 also caused Antarctica's first confirmed wildlife die-off, killing over 50 skuas, as detailed in a ScienceDaily release.

No new US human cases emerged in the last 24 hours, and CDC's latest flu report shows seasonal influenza dominating, not avian strains. Poultry culling continues amid calls for vaccines, stalled by trade and mutation fears.

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