On March 25, 2024, a national authority in Viet Nam notified WHO of a case of human infection with highly pathogenic avian influenza. Then on April 1, a second but unrelated human infection with (H5N1virus was reported in Texas, USA.

Researchers who sequenced viruses from wastewater samples from 10 Texas cities found H5N1 avian flu virus in 9 of them, sometimes at levels that rivaled seasonal flu.

Why is WHO concerned about Avian Influenza or Bird Flu? Who is at risk? How can you protect yourself and which foods are safe to eat during an outbreak? Dr Wenqing Zhang explains in Science in 5.

Although bird flu viruses do not normally infect humans, sporadic human infections have occurred. It is important to note that “highly pathogenic” refers to severe impact in birds, not necessarily in humans.

On March 25, 2024, immediately following the first detection of H5N1 in dairy cattle in the Texas panhandle region, USDA and HHS began their work to understand the origin of the emergence and its potential impact in bovines and humans.

CDC is working in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), state public health and animal health officials, and other partners using a One Health approach.

The H5N1 avian influenza virus has so far shown no signs of adapting to allow human-to-human transmission, the UN health agency said on Wednesday, urging continued surveillance.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notified the public in early April that an individual in Texas had tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza, or bird flu.

Federal Order to assist with developing a baseline of critical information and limiting the spread of H5N1 in dairy cattle

In March 2024, dairy and poultry veterinarian Kay Russo, DVM, MAHM, DACPV, consulted with Barbara Petersen, DVM, MBA, who was working up sick cattle on a dairy farm in Texas.