Avian Influenza Resurgence: Nebraska Dairy Herd Infected, Concerns Linger for Wildlife and Humans

The bird flu remains a dynamic concern as new cases emerge in the United States. In the last 24 hours, national health authorities reported the confirmation of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in a Nebraska dairy herd, marking the state's first detection in cattle, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This herd, located in central Nebraska, is under quarantine, and preliminary genetic analysis links the strain to viral types previously seen in California. Nebraska's case raises the total number of infected dairy cattle states to eighteen since March 2024, with over 1,790 affected herds nationwide.

While dairy cattle have seen cases drop over the summer months, recent weeks have brought a resurgence of outbreaks in poultry flocks, especially in South Dakota and North Dakota. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that the current public health risk remains low. Human cases among those exposed to animals have totaled seventy in the U.S. since 2024, with California, Colorado, and Washington among the most impacted states. The only U.S. death so far was attributed to H5N1 exposure in Louisiana.

The CDC has streamlined its updates to include bird flu tracking with broader influenza surveillance, reflecting the current risk assessment. Human-to-human transmission has not been identified in the United States, which keeps epidemiologists cautiously optimistic about controlling spread among people.

Wildlife monitoring continues to raise questions, particularly in the Pacific Northwest. Researchers have noted the virus’s expansion beyond birds, now affecting mammals like cougars, bobcats, skunks, and raccoons. In 2024, a major incident involved twenty big cats succumbing to H5N1 at a Washington sanctuary, showing how the virus can jump species. Notably, studies last year confirmed infection in harbor seals, adding another layer of complexity to the epidemic. Scientists think mammals are exposed mainly through scavenging or close contact with infected birds and believe most wildlife populations may be slowly developing increased resistance. Nevertheless, fall migration of birds could potentially bring another uptick in cases, so wildlife agencies urge the public to report sick or deceased animals.

Globally, no significant new outbreaks have emerged in the past day, but avian flu continues to be closely watched in Europe and Asia, where sporadic animal and rare human cases drive ongoing concern.

That’s all for this week’s bird flu update. Thank you for tuning in, and please come back next week for the latest on this evolving story. This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out Quiet Please Dot A I.

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