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US Bird Flu Cases Surge, Experts Call for Vigilance
US health officials report that H5N1 bird flu cases in people have risen to 70 nationwide as of early August, with continued poultry outbreaks prompting leading experts to call for sustained vigilance. According to a Spreaker news update from August 1, although the wave of infections among dairy cattle and humans that peaked earlier this year has subsided, new clusters in poultry flocks continue to appear across several states. Outbreaks have been reported in both commercial and backyard operations, resulting in new culls and heightened biosecurity protocols.
The CDC ended its emergency response this week, citing a significant decline in new cases among cattle and humans. However, sporadic human infections continue; the majority of recent human cases in the US are among workers exposed to infected animals, particularly in the poultry and dairy industries, with symptoms ranging from mild conjunctivitis to severe respiratory illness. Notably, the CDC has been unable to isolate the exact virus subtype from some recent US cases, emphasizing the need for ongoing genomic surveillance to monitor for potential mutations.
A recent overview by the New Zealand Institute for Public Health and Forensic Science reports that three US cases have resulted in severe illness, including one fatality. While most confirmed US cases have had a traceable animal source, there is currently no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission. Globally, the joint assessment from the FAO, WHO, and World Organisation for Animal Health published on July 28 indicates that between March and July, an additional 807 H5N1 outbreaks in animals were reported worldwide, affecting birds and various mammals — with spillovers sometimes occurring after close human contact with infected animals.
Cambodia has reported a 14th human case for 2025, underscoring the need for continued international surveillance. Experts from the University of Nebraska Medical Center remind readers that “the flu is still there, and we just don’t know enough about it,” and stress the importance of the One Health strategy: monitoring virus evolution, investing in vaccines, and improving cross-species surveillance.
In summary, while the immediate crisis in the US appears to be easing, the threat of bird flu remains. Experts urge agricultural producers, health workers, and the general public to maintain enhanced hygiene and biosecurity practices as risk persists both at home and abroad.
Thank you for tuning in. Be sure to come back next week for more updates. This has been a Quiet Please production, and for more, check out quietplease.ai.
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Published on 4 months, 4 weeks ago