All articles tagged with #bird flu
An outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1, strain A3) has killed at least 47 elephant seals at Año Nuevo State Park in California, with detections in a sea lion and southern sea otter; park tours are canceled and public beaches are urged to avoid sick or dead wildlife as officials say human risk remains very low.
Bird flu detected in California elephant seals off Pescadero marks the state's first mammal cases, with officials saying human transmission risk remains low; SFist's Sunday Links also cover local stories including SF budget cuts to the Environment Department, the Tenderloin's Airbnb rise, an Ebony Alert for three teens, the Chinese New Year Parade, and a Berkeley High mumps alert.
A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was identified in a Dane County backyard poultry flock. The premises were quarantined and the birds depopulated to prevent spread; USDA animal health officials and the Wisconsin DATCP are coordinating the response. Poultry owners are urged to enhance biosecurity and monitor flocks, reporting signs of illness as prompted. The HPAI H5N1 virus continues to circulate in wild and domestic birds across North America since 2021.
Researchers have confirmed a bird flu outbreak among elephant seals at California's Año Nuevo breeding grounds, prompting authorities to cancel popular seal-watching tours while wildlife officials monitor the situation.
A lethal avian influenza strain H5N1 has infected Northern elephant seals at Año Nuevo State Park, with seven pups testing positive and about 30 seals dead since late last week, marking the first documented cases in this population.
Thai authorities say 72 tigers died at two Chiang Mai area tiger parks from canine distemper virus, not bird flu. Autopsies detected CDV and bacterial infections but no avian influenza, and there have been no reported animal-to-human infections; health officials will monitor exposed people and contact tracing if needed as the Tiger Kingdom parks remain closed and investigations continue.
More than 30 swans have been found dead in London’s Docklands over the past week, with officials probing a suspected outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza; the APHA warns the public not to touch dead or visibly sick birds and to wash hands, while the Canal and River Trust conducts tests and Defra/APHA monitor the situation. Public reporting of dead wild birds is encouraged, and volunteers say the losses are emotionally difficult as researchers seek more data.
Nearly 100 geese were found dead in a Brown County gated community near Lake Waynoka, with officials from the Brown County Health Department, EPA, ODNR, and the Ohio Department of Agriculture collecting samples and disposing of carcasses to test for highly pathogenic avian influenza; results are expected in about a week.
In Hainesport, Burlington County, residents are disposing of hundreds of dead birds amid a suspected bird flu outbreak; state agencies aren’t assisting with cleanup, officials describe the public risk as low, and statewide reports of dead or sick birds exceed 1,100.
The gentoo penguin on Heard Island is the first bird on an Australian territory to test positive for H5N1 bird flu, after earlier detections in southern elephant seals; while Australia says it remains free of H5N1 and ongoing detections do not greatly raise immediate risk, experts warn the virus poses a serious threat to wildlife and stress the need for heightened surveillance and preparedness as H5N1 continues to spread across sub-Antarctic islands.
New Jersey officials are investigating a suspected bird flu outbreak after large numbers of dead or dying geese were found in Gloucester County parks, including Pitman’s Betty Park and Alcyon Park (both closed). Authorities estimate 50–75 suspected cases at that Pitman location, with Sicklerville also under review; officials say the avian flu poses little risk to humans and will provide more details on Wednesday.
A UC Davis–led study with Erasmus MC confirms that more than 50 Antarctic skuas died during the 2023–24 summers from H5N1 avian influenza, the first documented mass wildlife death linked to the virus in Antarctica. The findings, published in Scientific Reports, underscore the virus’s global reach, raise concerns for penguins and other wildlife, and call for enhanced global surveillance and preventive actions to monitor and curb further spread.
A Grant County outdoor pet cat tested positive for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) after exposure to a wild bird and has died. WSDA warns migratory birds can concentrate and spread the virus to pets and poultry, urging owners to keep pets indoors or in covered areas, practice good hygiene, and avoid feeding pets raw or uncooked meat. No human infections have been reported in this case. Since 2022, 149 domestic cats in the U.S. have tested positive for bird flu, with Washington cases sometimes linked to raw pet food.
The article reveals how the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) among US dairy cattle and poultry, facilitated by industrial farming practices and lack of government oversight, poses significant health risks to animals and humans, highlighting the broader dangers of the consolidated, profit-driven food industry and advocating for systemic reforms.
An infectious-disease expert highlights key viral threats to watch in 2026, including bird flu, mpox, and Oropouche virus, emphasizing the importance of vigilance, vaccine development, and understanding emerging viruses amid global changes and travel.