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January 24, 2025
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H5 Bird Flu: Current Situation
What to know
- H5 bird flu is widespread in wild birds worldwide and is causing outbreaks in poultry and U.S. dairy cows with several recent human cases in U.S. dairy and poultry workers.
- While the current public health risk is low, CDC is watching the situation carefully and working with states to monitor people with animal exposures.
- CDC is using its flu surveillance systems to monitor for H5 bird flu activity in people.
Current situation
H5 Bird Flu Detections in USA
• Dairy cattle: Ongoing multi-state outbreak
• Wild Birds: Widespread
• Poultry Flocks: Sporadic outbreaks
• Mammals: Sporadic infections
• Person-to-person spread: None
• Current public health risk: Low
67 Confirmed Total Reported Human Cases in the United States
1 Death Associated with H5N1 Bird Flu Infection in the United States
Confirmed human case summary since 2024, by state and exposure source
Exposure Source
| 36 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 38 |
| 1 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 40 | 23 | 1 | 3 | 67 |
†Exposure was related to other animals such as backyard flocks, wild birds, or other mammals
‡Exposure source was not able to be identified Probable human case summary during the 2024 outbreak, by state and exposure source
When a case tests positive for H5 at a public health laboratory but testing at CDC is not able to confirm H5 infection, per Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) guidance, a case is reported as probable.
- Probable cases with commercial poultry exposure (e.g., poultry farms or culling operations):
- Washington (3)
- Arizona (2)
- Probable cases with commercial dairy (cattle) exposure:
- California (1)
- Probable cases with exposure source unknown:
- Delaware (1)
Confirmed and probable cases are typically updated by 5 PM EST on Mondays (for cases confirmed by CDC on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday), Wednesdays (for cases confirmed by CDC on Monday or Tuesday), and Fridays (for cases confirmed by CDC on Wednesday and Thursday). Affected states may report cases more frequently.
H5 Monitoring in People
CDC influenza (flu) surveillance systems show no indicators of unusual influenza activity in people, including avian influenza A(H5).
Monitoring Current Situation
National flu surveillance (since February 25, 2024)
Specimens tested
96,000+
specimens tested that would have detected influenza A(H5) or other novel influenza viruses
Human cases
3
case detected through national flu surveillance
Targeted H5 surveillance (since March 24, 2024)
Total people monitored
13,400+
after exposure to infected animals
Total people tested
600+
after exposure to infected animals
Human cases
64
cases detected through targeted H5 surveillance
Total people monitored and total people tested will be updated weekly on Fridays. Human cases are typically updated by 5 PM EST on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. CDC numbers on specimens tested for national flu surveillance is the number of seasonal flu tests conducted by public health labs. CDC numbers on H5 testing and monitoring are based on weekly state aggregate reports since 2022. CDC defers to states for updated information on people being monitored and tested. March 24, 2024, was the date of the first reported dairy cow infections in the United States. April 1, 2024, was the date of the first reported human case in the United States since the outbreaks in dairy cows began. Infected animals include poultry, dairy cows, and other birds and mammals.
Detections in Animals
- 10,969 wild birds detected as of 1/16/2025 | Full Report
- 51 jurisdictions with bird flu in wild birds
- 136,327,394 poultry affected as of 1/17/2024 | Full Report
- 51 states with outbreaks in poultry
- 928 dairy herds affected as of 1/16/2024 | Full Report
- 16 states with outbreaks in dairy cows
These data will be updated daily, Monday through Friday, after 4 p.m. to reflect any new data.
Cumulative data on wild birds have been collected since January 20, 2022. Cumulative data on poultry have been collected since February 8, 2022. Cumulative data on humans in the U.S. have been collected since April 28, 2022. Cumulative data on dairy cattle have been collected since March 25, 2024.
What CDC is doing
CDC Activities and Accomplishments to Date in 2024—2025 H5 Bird Flu Response
The current outbreak began in late March 2024 with the detection of H5N1 bird flu in dairy cows.Jan 17, 2025
H5 Bird Flu Response: Focus Areas for Ongoing Public Health Risk Assessment
CDC continues to assess that the current H5N1 bird flu risk to the general public remains low.Jan 15, 2025
Interim Guidance for Employers to Reduce Exposure to Avian Influenza A Viruses for People Working with Animals
This guidance identifies select occupational groups that may be at risk to novel influenza A virusesJan 10, 2025
Information for Employers Providing Personal Protective Equipment to Reduce Exposure to Avian Influenza A Viruses
This guidance identifies select occupational groups that may be at risk to novel influenza A virusesJan 6, 2025
Information for Workers Exposed to H5N1 Bird Flu
H5N1 bird flu is a virus that has recently been detected for the first time in cows.Jan 6, 2025
Genetic Sequences of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Viruses Identified in a Person in Louisiana
CDC has sequenced the influenza viruses in specimens collected from the patient in Louisiana who was Dec 26, 2024
Protective Actions for People
- Protective actions around wild birds Avoid direct contact with wild birds and observe them only from a distance, if possible. Learn more.
- What to do if you find a dead bird Avoid contact with wild or domestic birds that appear ill or have died and call to report sick or dead birds. Learn more.
- Protective actions around other animals with H5N1 bird flu Avoid unprotected exposure to infected live or dead animals or surfaces contaminated by them. Learn more.
- Protective actions if you work with potentially infected dairy cattle Avoid unprotected direct physical contact or close exposure with cattle and materials potentially infected or confirmed to be infected with HPAI A(H5) virus. Learn more.
- Consuming Milk People should not eat or drink raw milk or products made with raw milk. Choosing pasteurized milk is the best way to keep you and your family safe. Learn more.
- Preparing food It is safe to eat properly handled and cooked poultry in the United States. There are recommendations around products from other animals with H5 virus infections, including cattle and milk. Learn more.
- Traveling to other countries CDC does not currently recommend any travel restrictions related to bird flu to countries affected by bird flu in birds, other animals or people. Learn more.
- If you have contact with infected birds or other animals and become sick Learn what to do if you have contact with infected birds or other animals and become sick. Learn more.
- Clinicians can visit CDC's avian influenza (bird flu) information for health professionals for the latest guidance. Learn more.
- Public health professionals and laboratorians can visit CDC's avian influenza (bird flu) information for public health partners for the latest guidance. Learn more.
- Get a seasonal flu vaccine Seasonal flu vaccination will not prevent infection with bird flu viruses, but can reduce the risk of getting sick with human influenza viruses and thus the risk for seasonal and bird flu co-infection. Learn more.
- Bird Flu in Humans
- Bird Flu in Poultry
- Detections in Poultry
- Bird Flu in Wild Birds
- Detections in Wild Birds
View AllBird Flu
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Bird Flu in Humans
Sources
https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/situati...%2Fwww.cdc.gov %2Fbird-flu%2Fphp%2Favian-flu-summary%2Findex.html
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