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H5N1 Spreads Across Midwest Farms Amid Continued Surveillance and Low Public Health Risk
This is Bird Flu Bulletin: Daily H5N1 Update. Today is Wednesday, October 8, 2025.
Top Stories
First, state agencies in Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin have reported fresh H5N1 outbreaks on commercial poultry farms. The Minnesota Board of Animal Health confirmed two new breeder farm outbreaks in Becker and Otter Tail counties. Wisconsin detected H5N1 in a second commercial flock in Jefferson County. Iowa officials stated this is their eighth poultry outbreak in 2025, with the latest case at a turkey farm in Calhoun County, marking the region’s ongoing struggle to contain the virus. According to the Center for Outbreak Response Innovation at Johns Hopkins, these outbreaks are contributing to a national rise in activity and underscore the persistence of H5N1 in bird populations.
Second, while animal cases continue, there have been no new confirmed human H5N1 infections in the United States since February. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports total confirmed human cases holding steady at 70 since the start of the outbreak. Of these, 41 have been linked to exposure to infected dairy herds and 24 to poultry operations. The CDC’s most recent update emphasizes that surveillance continues, particularly among high-risk agricultural workers, though routine testing access remains limited.
Third, the overall risk to the general public remains classified as low. This is based on a consistent decline in both animal and human infections in recent months. Bulk milk testing and expanded wastewater surveillance across 45 states have enhanced detection, but experts caution that surveillance gaps — especially among marginalized farm workers — may lead to some mild human cases going unreported. U.S. Department of Agriculture officials report that, nationally, one new cattle herd in Arizona and several commercial and backyard poultry flocks in Pennsylvania have tested positive in the past 30 days.
Case Numbers and Comparison
Compared to yesterday, official numbers are unchanged. The national human case count stands at 70, with no new reports overnight. On the animal front, three Midwestern states recorded additional poultry outbreaks in the past 24 hours, contributing to a regional increase but not a spike in nationwide figures.
Guidance from Health Authorities
Current statements from the CDC reiterate that public health risk is minimal. The CDC advises those working with poultry and dairy cattle to use personal protective equipment and immediately report any flu-like symptoms. The American Medical Association supports continued accelerated subtyping testing in hospitalized flu patients to ensure rapid detection.
Expert Interview Snippet
We spoke with Dr. Angela Summers, infectious disease epidemiologist at the Minnesota Department of Health.
Dr. Summers: “While the public risk of H5N1 remains low, these outbreaks stress the need for vigilance, especially on farms. Our advice is unchanged: farm workers and veterinarians should use PPE and seek prompt testing for any symptoms. We continue to work closely with federal partners to monitor and contain the virus.”
Looking Ahead
Tomorrow, health officials expect to finalize the latest risk assessment report, which will focus on seasonal trends and mitigation in animal agriculture. Ongoing surveillance data from wastewater and bulk milk testing, as well as new genetic analyses of circulating strains, may offer further insight into detection gaps and evolving risks. Authorities will also update guidance for farm operations based on these results.
That’s all for today’s Bird Flu Bulletin: Daily H5N1 Update. Thank you for tuning in. Join us again next week for the latest updates. This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out Quiet Please Dot A I.
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Published on 16 hours ago