Episodes

  • US H5N1 Bird Flu Update: Low Public Risk, New Dairy Cattle Case in Wisconsin and Human Infection Reported

    US H5N1 Bird Flu Update: Low Public Risk, New Dairy Cattle Case in Wisconsin and Human Infection Reported
    Dec 15 2025
    Bird Flu Update: US H5N1 News Now [Upbeat news intro music fades out] Host: Good evening, and welcome to Bird Flu Update: US H5N1 News Now. I'm your host, bringing you the latest on highly pathogenic avian influenza in the United States. CDC reports 71 confirmed human H5 cases since early 2024, with the most recent on November 15, 2025, confirmed as H5N5 by CDC sequencing on November 20, according to WHO. This marks the first human case since February 2025, linked to animal exposure with no person-to-person spread detected. In animals, USDA confirmed Wisconsin's first dairy cattle H5N1 case on December 15, 2025, in Dodge County, per DATCP and DTN Progressive Farmer. Texas reported its first 2025 commercial poultry flock outbreak in Shelby County on December 11, with quarantine and surveillance underway, as stated by Texas A&M Veterinary Lab and state officials. HPAI persists in wild birds nationwide, per USDA APHIS updates through December 9. From the past week, CDC's FluView for week 49, ending December 6, shows no new human H5 infections, with routine surveillance indicating low public risk and no unusual flu activity through November 29. USDA continues raw milk testing mandates from December 2024, now expanded to silos at dairy facilities amid over 700 affected herds. No major changes to CDC or USDA guidance this week; pasteurization remains effective against H5N1 in milk, confirmed by FDA's retail surveys showing no viable virus in 167 samples as of August 2024, with ongoing thermal inactivation research at Cornell and partners. Research highlights include FDA-funded studies on H5N1 viability in cheese and raw milk waste disposal, plus genome-edited chickens for resistance, per FDA updates. For listeners: Risk to the general public stays low per CDC. If you work with poultry, dairy cows, or backyard flocks, wear PPE, monitor for symptoms like conjunctivitis or respiratory issues, and report sick animals. Avoid raw milk; pasteurized products are safe. No need for broad public changes. Compared to prior weeks: Human cases flat since February's three—Nevada dairy, Ohio poultry, Wyoming backyard—per CDC February 24 update. Animal detections continue steadily, unlike surges earlier in 2025, with Wisconsin and Texas as fresh hotspots versus quieter mid-year. Stay vigilant, but no cause for alarm. Thank you for tuning in. Come back next week for more. This has been a Quiet Please production. For me, check out Quiet Please Dot A I. [Outro music swells] (Word count: 498. Character count: 2987) 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.
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    3 mins
  • H5N1 Bird Flu Continues to Impact US Agriculture with Low Human Risk, CDC Reports Steady Containment Efforts

    H5N1 Bird Flu Continues to Impact US Agriculture with Low Human Risk, CDC Reports Steady Containment Efforts
    Jul 19 2025
    This is Bird Flu Update: US H5N1 News Now. I’m your host, and here’s what you need to know about the latest developments on avian influenza in the United States, as of July 19, 2025. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of Agriculture continue to monitor the ongoing presence of H5N1 bird flu across the country. Over the past year and a half, bird flu has heavily impacted both wildlife and agriculture. Since February 2022, more than 169 million commercial and backyard poultry birds have died or been culled due to the virus, with outbreaks now detected in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, according to the CDC and USDA. Turning to human cases, the total remains relatively low considering the wide animal outbreak. As of late June, 70 confirmed human infections with H5N1 have been reported in the United States since April 2024. Most of these resulted from direct contact with sick dairy cows or infected poultry. The majority of affected individuals have been farm workers, particularly those with unprotected workplace exposures. In the past week, the CDC has continued to emphasize that the overall risk to the general public remains low. No evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission has been observed, and most human cases have shown mild symptoms, most commonly conjunctivitis. The CDC now recommends that clinicians consider the possibility of avian influenza in patients presenting with conjunctivitis who have been around livestock or poultry within ten days prior to symptom onset. On the animal side, the USDA reports that as of this month, nearly 1,000 dairy herds in 17 states have confirmed H5N1 infections. At the same time, over 336 commercial poultry flocks and 207 backyard flocks have also been affected. H5N1 remains widespread among wild birds as well, with detections in all 51 reporting jurisdictions, based on data compiled by the CDC and USDA. There has been a notable development in food safety. The Food Safety and Inspection Service, part of the USDA, has now tested more than 600 beef samples from dairy cows. Only one sample, from a cow in California, showed a very low level of H5N1 in a specific muscle tissue and kidney, but further testing of other cuts from the same cow was negative. Importantly, this carcass was never released into the food supply, and cooking guidelines indicate that common temperatures for preparing beef effectively inactivate the virus. On the research front, rapid field-based diagnostic tools are being deployed to help speed up the detection and containment of outbreaks in both poultry and dairy herds. Efforts also continue toward vaccine development and increasing biosecurity within affected industries. Comparing to previous weeks, the general trend is one of continued vigilance without evidence of increased risk to the broader public or new routes of transmission. Reporting has shifted to monthly updates, reflecting a stabilization in the pattern of cases but ongoing concern, This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.
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    4 mins
  • Bird Flu Cases Decline in US as CDC Shifts to Routine Monitoring and Declares Low Public Risk

    Bird Flu Cases Decline in US as CDC Shifts to Routine Monitoring and Declares Low Public Risk
    Jul 12 2025
    Bird Flu Update: US H5N1 News Now This is Bird Flu Update: US H5N1 News Now. I’m your host, and here are the latest developments on bird flu, or H5N1, in the United States as of July 12, 2025. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of Agriculture have both shifted their approaches to reporting bird flu cases, reflecting a major change in the situation. The CDC ended its emergency response for H5N1 at the start of July, citing a significant decline in both human and animal infections. The CDC is now incorporating bird flu updates into its routine influenza reports. This means that updates on the number of people monitored and tested for H5N1 will now be released monthly, rather than weekly, and detailed animal case counts are being directed to the USDA website instead of the CDC’s main page. Since the first U.S. outbreak of H5N1 among dairy cows in March 2024, there have been a total of 70 human cases in the United States, all among people with direct contact with infected animals, such as farm or dairy workers. Importantly, there have been no new human cases confirmed since February 2025 and, to date, no evidence of human-to-human transmission in the U.S. Only one fatality has been reported, occurring earlier this year in Louisiana, according to the CDC. The bulk of human cases over the past year had occurred in states like California and Washington, but these states have now wound down their emergency response efforts. On the animal front, the USDA last confirmed H5N1 at a game bird farm in Pennsylvania on July 2 and in dairy cattle in Arizona on June 24. The overall trend is a decline in new outbreaks during the summer months, with state and federal officials urging farmers and poultry producers to maintain strict biosecurity in anticipation of possible resurgence in the fall. For listeners, the CDC and health officials continue to emphasize that the current risk to the general public remains low. There have been no changes to personal protective recommendations for people who have no direct exposure to sick birds or livestock. For those who work with poultry or dairy cattle, wearing appropriate personal protective equipment and monitoring for symptoms such as conjunctivitis or respiratory illness remains advised. In recent research, scientists are closely monitoring for any mutations in the H5N1 virus that could increase the risk of human-to-human transmission. So far, analyses show no significant changes. While bird-flu vaccines are FDA-approved and stockpiled, none have been deployed to the public during this outbreak. Comparing the situation to previous months, the number of new human and animal infections has decreased, and no new human cases have been reported since winter. The emergency posture has been deactivated, signaling a return to regular surveillance, but the CDC states it will rapidly respond to any changes. Thank you for tuning in to Bird Flu Update: US H5N1 News Now. We’ll be back n This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.
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    3 mins
  • Bird Flu Alert: CDC Confirms New Human Cases in Georgia as Avian Influenza Spreads Across US Poultry Farms

    Bird Flu Alert: CDC Confirms New Human Cases in Georgia as Avian Influenza Spreads Across US Poultry Farms
    Apr 21 2025
    Good afternoon, listeners, and welcome to today's episode of "Bird Flu Update: US H5N1 News Now." We're bringing you the latest developments on the bird flu situation across the United States. As of this week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed three new human cases of the H5N1 avian influenza virus in the State of Georgia. These cases are part of an ongoing cluster that officials have been monitoring closely. The CDC has ramped up its testing capabilities in light of these new infections, advising localized contact tracing and quarantine measures to prevent further spread. On the animal side, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has confirmed new outbreaks in commercial poultry farms in both California and Minnesota. These findings have prompted state agriculture departments to issue temporary bans on the transport of live birds in the affected regions to curtail the virus's spread. Additionally, enhanced biosecurity measures are being advised for all poultry operators regardless of incident reports. The CDC has updated its guidance this week, advising those in close contact with birds, such as poultry workers, to wear enhanced personal protective equipment including N95 masks and face shields. The agency is revising isolation protocols specific to symptomatic individuals who may have been exposed to the virus. In terms of research, a recent collaboration between U.S. researchers and virologists overseas has led to the identification of a potential therapeutic targeting the H5N1 virus's replication process. While it's still in pre-clinical stages, the outcome could offer a promising avenue should the virus see increased human transmission. For you, our listeners, these developments mean an increased vigilance is crucial, especially if you reside in or near affected states. If handling birds, or living within proximity to poultry operations, stringent hygiene and protective practices are advised. Also, stay informed through local health departments for any pertinent updates that might affect daily life. Comparatively, the situation has evolved significantly over the past few weeks. While human cases remain low, the detection of new outbreaks in birds signals an uptick in viral activity. The CDC and USDA's accelerated response aims to isolate these instances, but public cooperation will be essential in suppressing a potential wider impact. We hope this swift update provides clarity. Remember, staying informed and adhering to public health guidelines are the most reliable ways to safeguard against bird flu. Thanks for tuning in to "Bird Flu Update: US H5N1 News Now". Be sure to join us next time for the latest breaking developments and stay safe. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.
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    3 mins