Vigilant Monitoring of Avian Influenza as Migratory Season Approaches

The United States is seeing continued, though somewhat reduced, activity related to highly pathogenic avian influenza, or bird flu, as the fall migratory season approaches. According to the CDC, so far in 2025 there continues to be no confirmed human-to-human transmission of the H5 bird flu virus in the US, but experts remain vigilant in monitoring the situation. Over the last year, there have been seventy confirmed cases of bird flu infection in people in the US, resulting in one death. Most cases have stemmed from direct contact with infected animals or materials according to the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

The virus remains most active in wild bird and poultry populations. Columbia Insight reports that in the Pacific Northwest, there is cautious optimism among wildlife experts, as spring and summer 2025 brought fewer wild bird and mammal deaths than prior years. Scientists hope this signals increased resistance among wildlife but warn the real test will come with fall migration, when millions of birds travel through the region. Notably, bird flu is now widely recognized as endemic in North American wildlife, including mammals such as skunks, cougars, and raccoons, with wildlife agencies urging the public to report sightings of dead animals. Nevertheless, experts still assess the risk to the general public as low, though those handling birds or wild animals should exercise caution.

Globally, the H5N1 strain continues to cause concern. In Southeast Asia, particularly Cambodia, virologists are alarmed by a sharp rise in human bird flu cases. The Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand hosted experts last week who revealed that Cambodia has confirmed sixteen human cases this year, eight of which have been fatal, and neighbors like Thailand have raised alert levels in response. Although there are currently no signs the virus has become easily transmissible between people, each spillover into a new species raises the risk that the virus could adapt for easier human-to-human spread. Surveillance activities across Southeast Asia and beyond are being strengthened in alignment with new global pandemic preparedness strategies.

In Europe, the virus remains active as well, with fresh outbreaks in poultry reported this week in southern Bulgaria affecting tens of thousands of birds, as noted by The Poultry Site. Meanwhile, animal health agencies in the US are also monitoring isolated events, such as a recent outbreak among house cats, with new research from the University of Maryland suggesting early intervention may improve survival for infected animals.

Thank you for tuning in to this update. Come back next week for more on the global bird flu situation. This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out QuietPlease dot AI.

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