January 23, 2025
3 read me
The latest on bird flu in humans, cats and chickens
H5N1 avian influenza continues to spread in commercial and backyard poultry and more cases have been reported in domestic cats.
as bird flu As the outbreak affecting poultry, dairy cattle and humans continues to make headlines in the US, here’s what you need to know about the situation as of January 23rd.
Human cases
The US reported it First human case of H5N1 bird flu in two years in April 2024. Since then the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed a total of 67 human cases. The First US death from bird flu was announced earlier this month in Louisiana, but most of the country’s human cases have remained relatively mild.
About supporting science journalism
If you like this article, please consider supporting our award-winning journalism subscribe. By purchasing a subscription, you’re helping to ensure a future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas that shape our world.
The CDC says there is no evidence of human-to-human spread. Most people with bird flu are infected through exposure to sick dairy cows or poultry. Cows with bird flu shed large amounts of the H5N1 virus in their milk, though pasteurization has been confirmed to kill the virusmaking the commercial milk supply safe to drink. (Raw milk is unsafe.) Poultry workers have been contaminated primarily through slaughter operations. The source of some human infections remains difficult to determine.
Bird cases
Bird flu continues to spread among commercial poultry and backyard poultry. On January 23, the US Department of Agriculture announced that 98 flocks had been infected in the past 30 days, with more than 15 million birds affected. Bird flu is so contagious and deadly in birds that the entire flock dies as soon as the presence of the virus is confirmed. Since the start of the bird flu outbreak in February 2022, more than 140 million birds have been infected or proactively killed.
Recent infections among birds including two large commercial chicken farms in Georgia, which are the main source of so-called broilers raised for meat. Maryland and Virginia have also reported recent cases at broiler facilities, while Missouri has confirmed bird flu infections at an egg farm. And on the day New York State health officials announced a massive outbreak Long Island Duck Farm. As bird flu cases continue to rise, Egg prices are rising rapidly. Fortunately, although eggs can carry many infections and should never be eaten raw, people are unlikely to. Catch bird flu from commercial chicken eggs.
Cat cases
Detections of bird flu have also been numerous in domestic cats. In January, positive samples were collected in California, Kansas, Louisiana and Iowa, and several other cases from last December have also been confirmed this month. Less information is usually available in these cases, and there are There are several ways cats can get bird flu: Those on dairy farms have been particularly vulnerable; such cats are likely to become infected by drinking milk from sick cows. But outdoor cats can also get bird flu from wild birds. And indoor cats can be exposed to the virus through raw milk and raw food. Recognizing this latest threat, on January 17 the Food and Drug Administration asked raw pet food manufacturers to update food safety plans to include H5N1.
Federal Communications
Controlling avian influenza has been a challenge since it first arrived in North America, possibly via wild birds that are not under the control of a particular health agency. And while poultry farmers have extensive experience with avian flu and strict biosecurity protocols, experts did not expect the virus to jump to dairy cowswhich, like poultry, are under the jurisdiction of the USDA and its state equivalents. Human cases, on the other hand, are the responsibility of local and state public health departments, with federal coordination from the CDC.
The impeachment of President Donald Trump has further blurred the picture: the administration ordered the Department of Health and Human Services, which includes the CDC. suspend all public communications at least until the end of the month.
