Episodios

  • Alarming Bird Flu Outbreak: H5N1 Virus Spreads Unchecked, Threatening Global Health Crisis

    Alarming Bird Flu Outbreak: H5N1 Virus Spreads Unchecked, Threatening Global Health Crisis
    Jan 13 2026
    # Bird Flu Update: Global Threat Intensifies as H5N1 Spreads Unchecked

    Scientists are sounding the alarm about bird flu as the H5N1 virus continues its relentless spread across the globe. According to the World Health Organization, there have been 992 human infections with avian influenza since 2003, with nearly 48 percent proving fatal. The situation has grown increasingly dire since the virus was first detected in 2020.

    Dr. Ed Hutchinson, a professor of molecular and cellular virology at the University of Glasgow, told BBC Science Focus that the virus is now "completely out of control" as a disease of wild animals. He explained there is no feasible containment method other than watching it infect huge populations of animals as it rages around the world.

    The scale of the outbreak is staggering. Over 285 million birds have been affected in the United States alone since February 2022. More alarming is the virus's ability to jump species barriers. In 2024, H5N1 was discovered in dairy cattle for the first time, an development no one anticipated. The CDC reports that 71 cases of human transmission from poultry or cattle have occurred in the U.S., resulting in two deaths.

    What makes this particularly concerning is the virus's genetic makeup. Researchers from Cambridge and Glasgow universities discovered that bird flu viruses are resistant to fever, meaning that human body temperature increases during illness may not provide protection. This is due to a specific viral gene that allows the virus to thrive at higher temperatures similar to birds' body temperatures.

    Globally, the current strain, known as clade 2.3.4.4b, evolved between 2018 and 2020 and has spread worldwide by 2021 through 2023. Scientists warn the virus is just one mutation away from sustained human-to-human transmission, which could spark a pandemic.

    In December, the National Veterinary Services Laboratories confirmed a new spillover event of H5N1 into dairy cattle, genotype D1.1, indicating the virus continues to evolve and jump between species. The Global Virus Network urged countries in April 2025 to improve surveillance and implement biosecurity measures to prepare for potential human-to-human transmission.

    While the CDC currently assesses the public health risk to Americans as low, the agency is monitoring the situation carefully. Scientists will continue watching throughout 2026 for evidence that H5N1 has mutated enough to transmit from person to person, a development that could trigger a global health emergency.

    Thanks for tuning in. Come back next week for more updates on this developing story. This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out Quiet Please Dot A I.

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    3 m
  • Headline: Experts Warn Raging Bird Flu Outbreak Poses Escalating Animal Health Crisis, But Remains Low Risk to Humans

    Headline: Experts Warn Raging Bird Flu Outbreak Poses Escalating Animal Health Crisis, But Remains Low Risk to Humans
    Jan 10 2026
    U.S. health officials say bird flu remains a serious animal health crisis but not yet a human one, even as scientists warn the virus is “completely out of control” in wildlife and livestock globally, according to reporting compiled by the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Science Focus.

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s latest FluView update for the week ending January 3, 2026, reports no human H5 bird flu infections detected through its national influenza surveillance systems and continues to rate current public health risk in the U.S. as low, even as seasonal flu activity stays elevated. The CDC notes that H5 bird flu has not been identified in routine respiratory samples from patients hospitalized with influenza-like illness, underscoring that human cases remain rare and sporadic.

    Experts remain uneasy. Scientists interviewed by Science Focus and summarized by UNMC’s Global Center for Health Security this week say highly pathogenic H5N1 has now infected hundreds of millions of birds, swept through poultry operations, and become established in U.S. dairy cattle since 2024, a species jump few anticipated. They describe the virus as “raging around the world” in wild animals, with no realistic way to eliminate it from nature, raising the long-term risk of further mutations.

    Globally, infectious-disease specialists writing in The Conversation and carried by Gavi’s VaccinesWork platform say H5N1 will be one of the most closely watched viruses in 2026. Researchers are looking for any genetic changes that might enable efficient human‑to‑human transmission, the key step toward a pandemic. Current seasonal flu vaccines are not expected to protect well against H5N1, but several targeted bird flu vaccine candidates are under development and could be deployed for high‑risk workers if needed.

    For now, officials emphasize that people at greatest risk are those with prolonged, unprotected exposure to infected birds, cattle, or their environments, such as farm and processing‑plant workers. Consumers are advised to avoid raw milk and ensure poultry, eggs, and meat are thoroughly cooked, standard food safety measures that inactivate influenza viruses.

    Thanks for tuning in, and be sure to come back next week for more. This has been a Quiet Please production, and for more from me check out QuietPlease dot A I.

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    3 m
  • Alarming Pandemic Risk: H5N5 Avian Flu Surges, Experts Warn of Potential 2026 Outbreak

    Alarming Pandemic Risk: H5N5 Avian Flu Surges, Experts Warn of Potential 2026 Outbreak
    Jan 8 2026
    U.S. and global health officials are intensifying surveillance of bird flu as scientists warn 2026 could bring a higher risk of a human pandemic if the virus keeps evolving in animals.

    In the United States, the Washington State Department of Health yesterday issued updated clinical guidance after confirming in November 2025 the nation’s first known human case of H5N5 avian influenza, a severe infection that resulted in death. The department stresses that overall risk to the general public remains low, but urges clinicians to ask flu patients about recent contact with sick birds, poultry, livestock, or raw milk and to test and isolate suspected cases quickly.

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to report that current public health risk from bird flu is low, yet officials are closely watching dairy and poultry operations after the virus became established in U.S. dairy cattle in recent years. According to reporting from the Los Angeles Times, California alone has accounted for more than half of the country’s confirmed human bird flu infections since 2021, largely among dairy and poultry workers with prolonged exposure to infected animals.

    Globally, scientists interviewed by Science Focus warn that highly pathogenic H5N1 has infected hundreds of millions of farmed birds, spread widely in wild bird populations, and spilled over into a growing list of mammals. One virologist described the disease in wild animals as “completely out of control” and said there is no realistic way to contain it other than monitoring its spread. Experts caution that while human cases are still rare, every new animal outbreak is another opportunity for the virus to mutate in ways that might make sustained human-to-human transmission possible.

    For now, health authorities in the U.S. and abroad are emphasizing basic precautions: avoid handling sick or dead birds, report unusual wildlife die-offs, and for farm and dairy workers, use protective gear and follow biosecurity rules. Seasonal flu vaccination is also being encouraged to reduce the risk of people being co-infected with both seasonal and avian influenza, a combination that could help the virus adapt more easily to humans.

    Thank you for tuning in, and come back next week for more. This has been a Quiet Please production, and for more from me check out QuietPlease dot A I.

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    3 m
  • Urgent Plea for USDA to Fast-Track Bird Flu Vaccine Amid Devastating Poultry Losses

    Urgent Plea for USDA to Fast-Track Bird Flu Vaccine Amid Devastating Poultry Losses
    Jan 6 2026
    .S. senators are ramping up pressure on the USDA to fast-track a science-based bird flu vaccination plan for poultry amid ongoing outbreaks that have killed over 180 million birds since 2022. Vet Candy reports that a bipartisan group of 23 senators sent a letter this week to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, demanding urgency as infections surge in winter months driven by wild bird migration and farm vulnerabilities.

    The plea highlights frustrations with biosecurity alone, which USDA officials call the primary defense but veterinarians say falls short. Despite a June confirmation of vaccine development and 400 research proposals from a 100 million dollar federal fund for egg-laying hens, no timelines or decisions have emerged. Frontline vets face uncertainty, advising producers on depopulation while trade concerns loom, as many countries ban imports from vaccinated flocks.

    Politics add tension: the Trump administration axed a 700 million dollar Moderna human bird flu vaccine contract, and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has slashed other vaccine funding, stirring worries in animal health circles despite distinctions between human and poultry shots.

    Globally, bird flu persists, but U.S. focus sharpens on poultry losses threatening egg and meat supplies. The CDC's latest flu report for week 52, ending December 27 and released January 5, notes elevated seasonal influenza but no fresh H5N1 human cases in the past day.

    No major human infections or new outbreaks reported in the last 24 hours, keeping the virus primarily an animal crisis.

    Thank you for tuning in. Come back next week for more. This has been a Quiet Please production, and for me, check out Quiet Please Dot A I.

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    2 m
  • H5N1 Bird Flu Outbreak Continues Nationwide, Impacting Dairy Cows, Poultry, and Wild Birds

    H5N1 Bird Flu Outbreak Continues Nationwide, Impacting Dairy Cows, Poultry, and Wild Birds
    Jan 3 2026
    H5N1 bird flu continues to circulate widely in the United States, with GISAID reporting ongoing spread in dairy cows, poultry, and wild birds as of January 1, driven by the clade 2.3.4.4b strain. The California Department of Food and Agriculture announced on December 31 that four dairy herds remain under quarantine, including one re-quarantined after a new detection on a previously cleared site, amid 766 total infected dairies since 2024.

    In human cases, the CDC has confirmed 71 infections nationwide, mostly mild eye and respiratory symptoms among farm workers exposed to infected animals, according to GISAID data through December 30. California leads with 38 cases linked to dairy cows, while 41 total tie to cows and 24 to poultry. No person-to-person transmission is reported, though one mammalian adaptation marker appeared in a single worker.

    A notable development: Washington State Department of Health reported a hospitalized resident in Grays County—the first human case of a rare influenza A H5 strain never before seen in people—linked to backyard poultry exposed to wild birds. The patient, with underlying conditions, remains hospitalized since early November, but no related infections have surfaced.

    Globally, the virus persists unpredictably, with high RNA levels in raw milk and infections across mammals like cats and coyotes. Vets are pushing back against USDA's ventilation shutdown depopulation methods for poultry flocks, per My Vet Candy on January 2. CIDRAP noted a fresh avian flu case in Nebraska yesterday.

    Public risk stays low, per CDC, but experts urge vigilance during migratory bird season. Thank you for tuning in. Come back next week for more. This has been a Quiet Please production. For me, check out Quiet Please Dot A I.

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    2 m
  • Bird Flu Persists in US Poultry, Impacting Prices and Flocks

    Bird Flu Persists in US Poultry, Impacting Prices and Flocks
    Jan 1 2026
    Bird flu continues to challenge US poultry farmers as 2026 begins, with ongoing recoveries from massive flock losses and warnings of persistent risks. In Ohio, farmers are still rebuilding after highly pathogenic avian influenza wiped out over 15 million birds starting Christmas Eve 2024, according to Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Brian Baldridge. Ohio Poultry Association executive vice president Jim Chakeres notes flocks aren't fully restocked due to two-year scheduling delays, amid nationwide losses nearing 175 million birds since 2022 that have driven up egg and poultry prices.

    No new commercial cases reported in Ohio recently, but wild birds carry the virus, including 72 vultures that died last month in Clermont County from preliminary lab tests. Iowa recorded ten avian flu cases in 2025, killing over 758,000 birds, per KGAN reports. As of early November, USDA data showed 67 flocks affected nationwide in 30 days, leading to 3.72 million bird deaths.

    Human risk stays low, with at least 70 US infections mostly among farmworkers and one death, says UNMC Health Security. Indian researchers from Ashoka University warn in BMC Public Health of potential H5N1 human spread, urging better surveillance after 990 global cases since 2003 with 48 percent fatality.

    Vaccination remains off-limits for US flocks due to USDA trade concerns, despite a 100 million dollar study underway. Biosecurity is at peak levels, limiting farm access.

    Grant County Health in Washington distinguishes bird flu from seasonal flu surging there, with no person-to-person bird flu transmission.

    Thank you for tuning in. Come back next week for more. This has been a Quiet Please production, and for me check out Quiet Please Dot A I.

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    2 m
  • Soaring Concerns: Latest Outbreaks and Human Impacts of Avian Influenza Across the U.S.

    Soaring Concerns: Latest Outbreaks and Human Impacts of Avian Influenza Across the U.S.
    Dec 30 2025
    # Bird Flu Update

    Bird flu continues to spread across the United States, with new outbreaks emerging in multiple states and concerns growing among public health officials.

    According to the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, new avian flu outbreaks have been reported in five states as of December 11th. In Indiana, the situation has escalated significantly, with outbreaks at commercial duck meat facilities affecting more than 15,000 birds.

    The human impact remains limited but serious. Washington Department of Health confirmed the first known human case of H5N5 avian influenza in November of this year. The patient was hospitalized with severe disease and unfortunately died, marking a significant development in the outbreak. Symptoms of avian influenza in humans can range from mild to severe and mirror those of seasonal influenza.

    Meanwhile, wildlife authorities are investigating suspected bird flu deaths in Florida. Officials suspect bird flu after 12 swans died recently at Lake Eolas Park in downtown Orlando. About five dozen swans lived at the park before these recent deaths. The last bird flu outbreak at the park occurred in February 2024. Because the deaths occurred during the holiday season, the citys specialized veterinarians were unable to perform immediate evaluations. Dead swans have been stored securely for necropsies to determine the cause of death.

    According to the CDC and Washington Department of Health, the risk of avian influenza to the general public remains low, though officials are closely monitoring the situation. Transmission between humans is extremely rare and has not been documented in the United States. The greatest risk to the general public continues to be seasonal influenza.

    Health officials recommend that people avoid handling sick or dead birds or wildlife. Healthcare workers are advised to treat suspected avian influenza patients immediately with antiviral medications and to use strict isolation and personal protective equipment protocols.

    The seasonal influenza vaccine is recommended for everyone six months and older. While the seasonal vaccine does not protect against avian influenza, it reduces the risk of co-infections, which public health officials consider an important concern.

    Thanks for tuning in to this bird flu update. Be sure to check back next week for more health and science news. This has been a Quiet Please production. For more information, check out Quiet Please Dot A I.

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    2 m
  • "Ongoing Bird Flu Outbreak Impacts US Livestock and Wildlife, Highlights Transmission Risks"

    "Ongoing Bird Flu Outbreak Impacts US Livestock and Wildlife, Highlights Transmission Risks"
    Dec 27 2025
    Bird flu continues to spread in US livestock and wildlife, with a new spillover event confirmed in a Wisconsin dairy herd on December 26, according to Cheese Reporter. This marks the 1,084th confirmed case in dairy herds across 19 states since the outbreak began, highlighting ongoing risks to milk production from wildlife transmission.

    In Washington state, King County Public Health issued updated guidance on December 26, urging healthcare providers to screen all suspected flu patients for avian influenza exposure, such as contact with sick birds, livestock, or raw milk. The CDC maintains the public risk remains low, but recommends immediate oseltamivir treatment for suspected cases and annual flu shots to prevent co-infections. Earlier this month, Washington's first H5N5 human case resulted in a patient's death, per state health officials.

    Wildlife impacts persist: Two barn owls at Washington's Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge tested positive for bird flu last week, as reported by The Jolt News, underscoring the virus's foothold in raptors despite their rodent-based diet. In Maryland, the Department of Natural Resources warned on December 22 of a potentially active season ahead for highly pathogenic avian influenza in waterfowl and vultures, advising reports of dead birds to USDA at 1-877-463-6497.

    No new human cases emerged in the last 24 hours, and global reports remain quiet, with US authorities emphasizing biosecurity for farms and avoidance of sick wildlife.

    Thank you for tuning in. Come back next week for more. This has been a Quiet Please production, and for me, check out Quiet Please Dot A I.

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    2 m
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