This is Bird Flu Bulletin: Daily H5N1 Update for Saturday, December 13, 2025.
Top stories:
First, the World Health Organization reports that the United States’ most recent human bird flu case, confirmed in mid‑November, was caused by H5N5, not H5N1, and remains the only U.S. human H5‑series infection since February. WHO says there is still no evidence of sustained human‑to‑human transmission, and the overall global risk to the public remains low.
Second, the Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection’s global avian influenza update, current to December 9, shows continued H5N1 detection in birds across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas, with new poultry outbreaks logged in countries including France, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United States over the past week. These events underline that the virus remains entrenched in wild birds and poultry worldwide.
Third, the Food and Agriculture Organization’s most recent situation update notes nearly one thousand new avian influenza outbreaks in animals since late September, the majority linked to H5N1 and related H5Nx viruses, along with several newly reported human infections globally. FAO stresses the importance of close cooperation between animal and human health sectors as the current wave continues.
Changes in case numbers:
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the national total since early 2024 stands at 71 confirmed human H5 infections, including exposures to dairy herds and poultry operations, with no new U.S. human H5N1 cases reported in the last 24 hours. Globally, Our World in Data and recent FAO summaries indicate only sporadic additional human H5N1 cases in the last month, with no major spike reported today compared with yesterday.
New guidance:
The CDC reiterates that the current public health risk from H5 bird flu in the United States is low, but advises anyone working with poultry or dairy cattle to use appropriate personal protective equipment, report sick animals promptly, and seek testing if they develop flu‑like symptoms after exposure. WHO continues to recommend rapid investigation of all suspected zoonotic flu cases and strict infection‑prevention measures in health care settings.
Now, a brief interview snippet.
Host: Joining us is Dr. Elena Morales, a veterinary epidemiologist who advises on avian influenza control. Dr. Morales, what is the key message today?
Expert: The key point is vigilance without panic. The virus is still widespread in birds and occasionally spills over into humans, but these remain rare, usually mild, and are almost always linked to direct animal exposure. Our priority is protecting people who work with animals and catching any unusual clusters early.
Host: What should listeners do?
Expert: Stay informed, follow local health and agriculture guidance, and get seasonal flu vaccination. That will not prevent H5N1 specifically, but it reduces overall flu burden and helps surveillance teams spot anything out of the ordinary.
Looking ahead:
Tomorrow, we expect updated national and international tallies on animal outbreaks, further clarification on recent H5N1 detections in European poultry, and any additional information from WHO and CDC if new human cases are confirmed or if risk assessments change.
Thanks for tuning in to Bird Flu Bulletin: Daily H5N1 Update. Come back next week for more. This has been a Quiet Please production. For more from me, check out QuietPlease dot A I.
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