tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Nat Commun
. 2026 Feb 9.
doi: 10.1038/s41467-026-69344-w. Online ahead of print.
Assessing HPAI-H5 transmission risk across wild bird migratory flyways in the United States
Kang Fang[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jiahui Li[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Hongfeng Zhao[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jiangshaya Bahati[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Zeyu Zhao[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Wentao Song[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Tianmu Chen[SUP] 4 [/SUP]
Affiliations
As natural hosts of avian influenza viruses, wild birds pose an increasing threat to public health. Here, using surveillance data from wild bird infections across the United States (2022-2025), we show that HPAI-H5 transmission exhibits strong interspecific variation, seasonality, and spatial heterogeneity linked to migratory flyways. Phylogeographic analysis reveals that viral genotypes evolve from early, limited transmission along single migratory routes to a nationwide dispersal pattern spanning multiple migratory flyways. Anseriformes exhibits the highest number of infections but the lowest transmission risk, whereas Strigiformes demonstrates the greatest transmission risk. The HPAI-H5 transmission in wild birds along migratory flyways exhibits significant spatial heterogeneity and is associated with bird migration. Meteorological conditions are correlated with outbreak timing and may inform early warning efforts; however, these relationships are nonlinear. These findings provide a foundation for risk assessment, early warning systems, and integrated management of avian influenza in wild bird populations.
. 2026 Feb 9.
doi: 10.1038/s41467-026-69344-w. Online ahead of print.
Assessing HPAI-H5 transmission risk across wild bird migratory flyways in the United States
Kang Fang[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jiahui Li[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Hongfeng Zhao[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jiangshaya Bahati[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Zeyu Zhao[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Wentao Song[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Tianmu Chen[SUP] 4 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 41663383
- DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-69344-w
As natural hosts of avian influenza viruses, wild birds pose an increasing threat to public health. Here, using surveillance data from wild bird infections across the United States (2022-2025), we show that HPAI-H5 transmission exhibits strong interspecific variation, seasonality, and spatial heterogeneity linked to migratory flyways. Phylogeographic analysis reveals that viral genotypes evolve from early, limited transmission along single migratory routes to a nationwide dispersal pattern spanning multiple migratory flyways. Anseriformes exhibits the highest number of infections but the lowest transmission risk, whereas Strigiformes demonstrates the greatest transmission risk. The HPAI-H5 transmission in wild birds along migratory flyways exhibits significant spatial heterogeneity and is associated with bird migration. Meteorological conditions are correlated with outbreak timing and may inform early warning efforts; however, these relationships are nonlinear. These findings provide a foundation for risk assessment, early warning systems, and integrated management of avian influenza in wild bird populations.