Highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has caused 71 confirmed human cases across 13 US states since 2024, with ongoing exposure through dairy farms and poultry operations. As of June 2026, cases have been confirmed in California, Colorado, Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Three cases involved unknown exposure sources. Two deaths have occurred. CDC considers current risk to the general public as low, but monitors closely for signs of person-to-person transmission.
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H5N1 was first identified in humans in Hong Kong in 1997 during an outbreak linked to live poultry markets. Since 2003, it has caused numerous outbreaks in bird populations across Asia, Africa, and parts of Europe, leading to sporadic but often severe human infections and significant concerns for pandemic potential.
Avian Influenza H5N1 primarily spreads to humans through direct, prolonged contact with infected poultry (live or dead), their secretions (saliva, feces), or contaminated environments (e.g., surfaces in live bird markets). Human-to-human transmission is rare and has not been sustained, but close contact with an infected person might pose a limited risk.
Contagious Period: Varies by disease
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The deadly H5N1 bird flu virus responsible for decimating bird and seal populations around the globe has been detected in Sydney.
A pair of greater crested terns tested positive for the H5N1 bird flu at Port Kembla and Warriewood on Sydney's Northern Beaches, the NSW government has confirmed.
A third case was also confirmed in a Hutton's shearwater in Corindi, Coffs Harbour.
The two Northern Beaches cases represent the first recorded instances of H5N1 bird flu within the bounds of Sydney, and
📰 23 news sources reporting on this story.
The boss of Australia's largest chicken producer has issued a stark warning over poultry prices as the H5 bird flu crisis continues to take hold.
Edward Alexander, chief executive of Ingham's Group, this week told shareholders that industry costs are on the up, irrespective of whether the flu starts biting into the poultry industry.
Speaking at an investors meeting earlier in the week, Mr Alexander said the industry had been dealing with increasing costs related to bird flu, even without any ca
Australia confirmed its first case of H5N1 in June in a migratory brown skua, a sub-Antarctic species on the country's southern coast. Since then, the disease has rapidly spread.
To date, there have been 309 confirmed bird flu events, official data shows (the country is not counting individual bird cases, instead referring to events that could include one or more birds). Among the bird species to have died are greater crested terns, silver gulls (commonly known as seagulls) and little penguins.
Twenty-four tradies, scientists and support staff are stationed at Macquarie Island, located in the Southern Ocean about 1500km southeast of Tasmania.
Australia's icebreaking research and supply vessel, RSV Nuyina, will travel to the island in the next two months to evacuate the Australians and essential cargo.
The island is home to large elephant seal populations, with thousands of elephant seal pups born each spring that live close to research station buildings.
Scientists fear there is a hi
📰 28 news sources reporting on this story.
Why is the detection of H5N1 in a seal significant for Australia?
The seal, one of an estimated population of 100,000 in the state's waters, was found dead with no signs of injury, the authorities said.
Its death "does not appear to be associated with other sick or dead marine mammals," Federal Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said in televised remarks.
"Once the H5 bird flu is spreading in the natural environment it is not possible to avoid significant losses," Collins added.
Australia rep
📰 34 news sources reporting on this story.
5,000 little penguins in Victoria are receiving a vaccine to protect them against the deadly virus.
Bird flu has likely spread to a second seal, one day after the first mammal in Australia was confirmed to have contracted the virus.
Five suspected H5 bird flu cases were recorded in South Australia on Monday, including a long-nosed fur seal at The Pages Conservation Park, the state's Department of Primary Industries and Regions said in a statement on Monday morning.
The Pages -- which covers tw
A second potential case of H5N1 bird flu has been detected in a migratory bird in Queensland.
A deceased shearwater was found on Noosa's Castaway Beach and, after initial testing, returned positive for bird flu on Monday night.
The testing was completed at the Queensland Government's Biosecurity Sciences Laboratory.
Department of Primary Industries Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Allison Crook said the discovery was made as part of the state's enhanced surveillance program, reported Noosa Today.
📰 11 news sources reporting on this story.
SYDNEY: Australian wildlife workers have launched an unprecedented effort to vaccinate wild populations of little penguins against the highly contagious H5N1 avian influenza.
Hundreds of thousands of tourists a year flock to viewing areas and boardwalks to watch the diminutive sea birds waddle ashore and along the beach in the evenings on the eastern coast's Phillip Island.
The stars of this "penguin parade" are from a wild colony on the island, numbering up to 40,000 seabirds at the height of
Testing has confirmed H5 bird flu (H5N1 avian influenza clade 2.3.4.4b) in a single northern giant petrel, found dead on a remote Cape Palliser beach in the Wairarapa, says Dr Mary van Andel, the Ministry for Primary Industries' Chief Veterinary Officer.
"This positive detection is not a surprise as these ocean-going birds can arrive on our coastlines, especially in poor weather. We expect we will continue to find more cases in wild birds,'' says Dr van Andel.
"There were no signs of other issu
📰 12 news sources reporting on this story.
Originally published via Armageddon Prose:
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Aussie penguins get bird flu injections
In a world at latent nuclear war, seemingly on the brink of economic calamity at any moment as the financial house of cards threatens collapse, bird flu terror still simmers on the back-burner, in the technocrats' back pocket, ready for tactical deployment if need be.
Although they haven't ramped up the
📰 11 news sources reporting on this story.
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Global disease surveillance and guidelines from the World Health Organization
View WHO Resources →Disease information on Virus Watcher is reviewed by our Chief Epidemiologist, a former CDC lead analyst for FluSight forecasting. Outbreak data is aggregated from verified sources including BEACON, ProMED, WHO, CDC, and 50+ national health agencies. This information is for educational purposes and should not replace professional medical advice.
Last reviewed: 2026-09-04
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