When a virus kills 30 to 60% of the humans it infects, it tends to get attention. 

According to Dr. Anthony Fauci, that's exactly what H5N1 bird flu did in historical cases from 2003 to 2006, dwarfing the fraction of a percent seen with seasonal flu, or even the 1 to 2% that made 1918 the deadliest pandemic in modern history. The catch: the strains most lethal to humans are the same ones that devastate poultry populations, and they can jump species. The somewhat encouraging news is that H5N1 has never adapted to spread from human to human.

Clips from long article 5-22-26 https://www.oregonlive.com/health/2026/05/jury-awards-man-808000-after-his-cat-eats-pet-food-tainted-with-bird-flu-then-dies.html >>

A Multnomah County jury has awarded $808,000 to a Portland man whose 4-year-old cat contracted bird flu and died after eating raw chicken pet food.

That included $8,000 in veterinary bills that jurors agreed Wild Coast Pet Foods must pay cat owner Tim Hanson.

During the two-day trial this week, attorneys for Hanson argued that the company had assured customers it was testing its raw cat foods for bird flu when it had not. Hanson testified he had felt at ease by the company’s statements, as H5N1 outbreaks on poultry farms began to grip the nation in late 2024 and early 2025.

Kira, his beloved blue-eyed Siamese mix, fell visibly ill a few days after scarfing down Wild Coast Raw Free Range Chicken Formula in late January 2025, Hanson said. Roughly a week later, the feline was gasping for air. A vet said staff had run out of options to make her better, and Hanson said his final goodbye.

“I just held her,” Hanson recounted. “I just told her I loved her so much.”

Kira died by euthanasia on Feb. 9, 2025.

Jurors also found Wild Coast liable for $800,000 in punitive damages after Hanson’s attorney argued that the Tumwater, Wash., company had acted with “conscious indifference” to the health of cats and the owners who sought to protect them.

In all, six cats in Oregon died after eating Wild Coast’s food, said attorney Michael Fuller, who represented Hanson with co-counsel Emily Templeton.

Hanson, however, was the only Oregon cat owner to sue. Fuller told jurors that the company failed to take any responsibility for Kira’s death. To drive home that point, Fuller played the video-recorded testimony of the company’s founder, who said the raw chicken formula had not killed Kira, euthanasia had.

“I’m familiar that the food did get pets sick,” said founder Tyler Duncan, in his recorded deposition. “The owners then chose to euthanize a pet. Right? The food itself did not kill the animal.”

Virginia Hanks, a lead attorney for Wild Coast’s insurance company, Liberty Mutual, declined to comment through a spokesperson. Wild Coast didn’t respond to requests for comment.

A key part of their defense was that Wild Coast committed no “malice.” Instead, attorneys argued that the company relied on a hired laboratory to test for H5N1 and other strains of bird flu.<<...

&gt;>
Virus spread to cats in 22 states

Nationwide, the case also is one of the rare lawsuits filed over cats sickened or killed by raw poultry products sold by at least three pet food companies. Portland-based Northwest Naturals recalled some of its raw turkey SKUs in December 2024 after a house cat died in Washington County. In March 2025, Wild Coast Pet Foods and Savage Pet recalled lines of their raw chicken products.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says at least 135 domestic cats have fallen ill with bird flu in 22 states since 2024. An unreported number have died. Though some have been sickened from exposure to wild bird populations, many have been infected from eating raw chicken cat food.

The H5N1 virus hit cats and some other mammals far harder than humans. From 2024 to 2025, 71 people in the U.S. were known to have been infected and two died from H5N1 or a similar strain.

In the days after Kira died in February 2025, Hanson said he asked Wild Coast to pay his bills. He said it was only after he heard nothing back that he decided to file a lawsuit.

“I wanted some accountability,” Hanson told The Oregonian/OregonLive. “And I wanted to do whatever I could to help ensure that other cats don’t get sick and other pet owners don’t have to go through this.”<< ...

&gt;>Hanson’s attorney, Fuller, argued that Wild Coast was deceiving consumers in the last days of 2024 by claiming that it had tested all of its products for bird flu.

Fuller obtained December 2024 text messages from the company’s social media manager to its founder. In them, the manager asked if she could tweak language on Wild Coast’s Instagram page. She wanted to make it appear that the company was already testing its products for bird flu, Fuller said.

“In the statement you wrote ‘we will be testing’ — can that be changed to ‘we are testing’? And ‘will screen’ to ‘is screening’? Just to make things sound like they are happening now?” the social media manager wrote in a text to Duncan, the company’s founder.

Duncan responded: “Those are great changes.”

That same day, the company announced on its Instagram page that “we are testing all of our raw products for all Influenza A subtypes.” More posts followed<< ...

&gt;>More than a month later, Hanson said he was out of Wild Coast pet food so he stopped by his local pet store in the Alberta Arts District, just a few blocks from his Northeast Portland home. He spent $47.97 on three 24-ounce tubs.

Fuller told jurors that one of those containers contained the H5N1 virus. An expert testified that Wild Coast’s tests were not the “gold standard,” as the company promised, rather they fell far short.<< ... more at link

5-21-26 The Namibian &gt;>

In early April, a Cape Fur Seal rescued at Mossel Bay in South Africa had to be euthanised because of its poor condition.

The animal hospital caring for it asked that the seal be tested not only for rabies, but also for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).

Results received earlier this month confirmed that the seal was infected with bird flu. This is historic as it’s the first-ever recorded case of bird flu in a Cape Fur Seal.

Cape Fur Seals, which are endemic to Southern Africa, now face threats from two infectious diseases, rabies and avian influenza, in addition to many human-related threats.

Avian influenza is an airborne disease that can spread through infected birds, droppings, contaminated environments and airborne particles. Seals are most likely infected through direct contact with seabirds or contaminated water.

As seals and seabirds are often found resting or feeding together, and because seals occasionally hunt seabirds, the likelihood of transmission is considered quite high.

It was previously thought that avian flu could not be transmitted to Cape Fur Seals.

NAMIBIAN CONCERN

There is now serious concern that the virus could spread to Namibia’s seal populations, especially as seals and seabirds travel long distances up and down the coastline between Namibia and South Africa.

Many seals showing suspicious, and sometimes aggressive, behaviour have already been observed close to our Namibian colonies.

Because of the remote locations of Cape Fur Seal colonies, only some of these animals have ever been tested. When examined, it was usually only for rabies.

Namibia has already experienced outbreaks of bird flu.

The first one was detected in penguins in 2019 – more than 500 African Penguins were reported dead on Halifax and surrounding islands.

In 2022, Cape Cormorants were primarily affected. More than 6 500 birds died in

Namibia alone, threatening populations of an already endangered species.

Most recently, Common Terns were especially affected by bird flu last year.

SYMPTOMS

Signs to look out for in birds include unusual behaviour, seizures or twitching, head nodding, cloudy eyes, or birds that seem unusually tame.

The symptoms in seals are similar. They include severe lethargy, tremors, seizure-like activity, and breathing difficulties such as coughing or rapid, laboured breathing.

The virus is deadly for both seabirds and seals.

First detected in poultry in 1996, the virus mutated by 2020 and spread easily among wild birds. By 2022, it was known to spread from mammal to mammal.

In 2023, it caused mass deaths in Southern Elephant Seals in Argentina, killing more than 17 000 pups.

It also caused major losses in South Georgia in 2024, when nearly half of all breeding females were lost.

As of April this year, 36 Northern Elephant Seals, three California sea lions, and one southern sea otter were confirmed to be infected with avian flu in Californiain the United States.

It also the first time the disease has been detected in Northern Elephant Seals. The situation is concerning and is being closely monitored by authorities in California.

‘DON’T TOUCH’

Although not usually fatal to humans, people can still become infected and experience severe flu-like symptoms.

The public is therefore urged not to touch any animal and to keep a safe distance from any seabird or seal in distress along our coast.

Instead, please immediately notify Ocean Conservation Namibia (OCN) or the state veterinarian if you notice any suspicious behaviour or symptoms.

https://english.ratopati.com/story/63461/bird-flu-confirmed-in-namobuddha-municipality-kavre &gt;>
Kavre. Bird flu infection has been confirmed in Namobuddha Municipality of Kavrepalanchok district. Bird flu has been confirmed in laboratory tests conducted after crows living around the 26th Battalion Army Barracks in Ward No. 2 of the municipality started dying daily.

According to the municipality, symptoms similar to bird flu were observed in the dead crows, and samples were collected and sent to the Central Veterinary Disease Investigation Laboratory, Tripureshwor. The Molecular method test conducted by the laboratory, as per the test report published on Jestha 4, has confirmed 'Low Pathogenic-H9', the Municipal Executive Office informed.

With the confirmation of bird flu, the municipality has appealed to the city dwellers and stakeholders to exercise high vigilance to minimize potential damage and risks to public health.

American Veterinary Medical Association news 5-13-26 https://www.avma.org/news/cdc-confirms-cat-human-transmission-avian-influenza &gt;>

A public health investigation documented the transmission of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAI, more specifically avian influenza type A H5N1) from a domestic cat to a human, but health officials maintain that the risk remains low.

Last spring, investigators with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) interviewed individuals who had been exposed to HPAI-infected pet cats that consumed raw animal products. The people were also invited to receive serologic testing, and among the 25 who volunteered, one asymptomatic veterinary professional had serologic evidence of HPAI infection.

The results of the study, "Serologic Evidence of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus Infection in a Veterinary Professional Exposed to an Infected Domestic Cat—Los Angeles County, California, December 2024–January 2025," were published in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) on May 7.

"These findings provide evidence of zoonotic transmission of influenza A(H5N1) virus from domestic cats to humans. Pet owners are advised not to feed raw animal products to cats," the study authors wrote. "Veterinary professionals should be aware of infection risks, use appropriate personal protective equipment, and adhere to recommended infection control practices to reduce the risk for zoonotic transmission of influenza A (H5N1)."

The 19 cats in the study all had become sick after consuming commercially purchased raw milk, raw meat, or raw pet food between November 2024 and January 2025. Nine cats were tested and all came back positive for H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b, genotype B3.13, which is also what most human H5N1 infections have involved. The remaining cases were detected through veterinarian reports, commercial laboratory reports, or routine influenza A reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing of brain tissue from euthanized cats.

LACDPH officials interviewed 139 people: 11 pet owners in five households with affected cats, 126 from 10 veterinary practices where 14 of the cats had been evaluated, one from an animal control agency involved in transporting the cat carcasses, and one from a local health department.

Everyone was initially monitored for symptoms, and while 30 people reported flu-like symptoms, none received a positive RT-PCR test.

A few months later, public health officials with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and CDC invited those who were exposed to the cats to participate in an H5N1 serosurvey. 

Of the 25 people who volunteered to be tested, antibodies were detected in serum from one person. 

The investigators noted that this veterinary professional did not use personal protective equipment (PPE) over their mouth or eyes during the exposure, did not report flu-like illness after the exposure, and reported no other known risk factors for infection. In addition, the cat had received care at four veterinary practices the week before the positive result from the RT-PCR feline respiratory panel.

"Pet owners are advised not to feed cats raw milk or other raw animal products. Veterinarians should consider influenza A (H5N1) in cats with acute respiratory or neurologic illness and follow appropriate infection prevention practices, including using PPE, to reduce exposure risk," according to the report.

https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/avian-influenza-bird-flu/us-officials-note-handful-new-avian-flu-outbreaks-poultry-facilities &gt;>

Highly pathogenic avian flu has affected a handful of commercial poultry operations recently, per the latest updates from the US Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). In the past 30 days, the virus has been detected among eight commercial and six backyard flocks, affecting a total of 250,000 birds. 

The largest, most recent confirmation comes from Elkhart, Indiana, where 29,800 birds at a commercial duck meat facility were hit with the H5N1 strain. Becker, Minnesota, reported an outbreak at a commercial breeder operation affecting 19,200 birds.  

LaGrange County, Indiana, has had three recent outbreaks. The county has been an avian flu hotspot in the past six months. Finally Lee County, Florida, reported a small backyard outbreak affecting 10 birds. 

CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Weekly / May 14, 2026 / 75(18);234–239 https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/75/wr/mm7518a2.htm &gt;>

Summary

What is already known about this topic?

Since 2024, three human influenza A(H5) cases have been reported among people in the U.S. who own backyard birds. Although previous surveys suggest that backyard flock owners are aware of avian influenza, information on knowledge, attitudes, and practices is needed to guide development of education and prevention materials.

What is added by this report?

A survey of 638 U.S. backyard flock owners revealed incomplete knowledge about signs and symptoms of avian influenza in humans and birds. Respondents who knew more about avian influenza were more likely to report an intention to use personal protective equipment if they were to interact with potentially infected birds.

What are the implications for public health practice?

Education of backyard flock owners by health partners regarding signs and symptoms of avian influenza can help flock owners keep their flocks, themselves, and their families healthy.

Abstract

Many U.S. households keep backyard bird flocks for their personal food supply or as garden partners. Backyard flocks in the United States have occasionally been infected with avian influenza A viruses, putting flock owners at risk for exposure. During July–December 2025, CDC, in collaboration with state health and agricultural partners, conducted an online survey to learn more about backyard flock owners and their knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to avian influenza. Among 638 respondents who completed the survey, 92% were White (and not Hispanic or Latino), and approximately one half had a graduate or professional degree; a majority kept small, predominantly chicken flocks; and many reported that wild birds could access their flock or the flock’s food or water, which increases the flock’s risk for avian influenza exposure. Although a majority of respondents had heard of avian influenza, approximately one third were unaware of the signs and symptoms of infection in their birds or humans. If they needed to interact with ill or dead birds, a majority of owners knew the recommended precautions to take and indicated willingness to use most, though not all, recommended personal protective equipment. These findings highlight important topics for risk messaging and educational resources so that backyard flock owners are better informed and better able to protect their flocks, themselves, and their families from avian influenza.

Top

Introduction

Avian influenza A(H5) viruses, commonly referred to as bird flu, circulate among wild waterfowl and seabirds and are causing outbreaks in domestic poultry, dairy cows, and other mammals in the United States; 71 human cases of influenza A(H5) have been reported in the United States since March 2024. Three of these cases, including two deaths (1–4), occurred among persons who were owners of backyard flocks.

Surveys of U.S. backyard flock owners conducted in 2013 (5) and 2018 (6), found that a majority of respondents kept small flocks (fewer than 10 birds, primarily chickens) for <5 years. Most respondents were aware of avian influenza, and few reported using personal protective equipment (PPE) during regular interactions with their birds (6). To update and build on previous surveys, CDC and state partners conducted a survey among backyard flock owners aimed to assess knowledge of specific signs and symptoms of avian influenza and planned practices if their flock were to become infected with avian influenza viruses. These data might help guide and refine public health messaging to U.S. backyard flock owners. << ....

&gt;>Discussion

A majority of surveyed U.S. backyard flock owners had heard about avian influenza, were aware that U.S. backyard flocks have been infected, and knew that human cases of avian influenza have occurred in the United States. However, important gaps in knowledge and prevention practices remain among flock owners, suggesting opportunities for focused public health, animal health, and agricultural outreach.

Many respondents reported that wild birds could come into contact with their flocks, which increases the risk for avian influenza virus transmission. Educational messages should continue to emphasize best practices for keeping flocks healthy by physically separating flocks, feed, and water from wild birds and following other practices suggested in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Defend the Flock campaign (7), an education program that offers tools and resources for proper practices to protect flocks from illness.

In addition, early recognition of possible avian influenza virus infection in a flock is important for interrupting transmission within the flock and to humans interacting with the birds. Educational messages could emphasize the signs of avian influenza virus infection in domestic or wild birds and provide guidance about contacting a veterinarian or an agricultural or wildlife official for support. Approximately one third (29%) of backyard flock owners reported having a veterinarian. Encouraging flock owners to consider establishing a relationship with a veterinarian might improve early recognition and response to illness in the flock, as well as serve as a resource to help keep birds healthy.

Backyard flock owners should know how to protect themselves from avian influenza. Although most survey respondents reported willingness to use some types of PPE, fewer indicated they would use eye protection or coveralls. Messages to flock owners could highlight reasons to use each piece of recommended PPE, when to use it, and how to use it correctly.

Recent incidences of influenza A(H5) human cases among backyard flock owners in the United States underscore the importance of flock owners knowing the signs and symptoms of possible human A(H5) virus infection. The survey identified limited awareness of nonrespiratory symptoms of avian influenza in humans (such as conjunctivitis, diarrhea, and vomiting) and low perceived personal risk, which could result in delays in seeking health care. Flock owners should be encouraged to seek prompt medical evaluation for any potential symptoms of avian influenza virus infection and report recent bird exposure to health care providers to support timely diagnosis and further infection prevention and control measures.<< ...

https://www.dutchnews.nl/2026/05/bird-flu-hits-poultry-farm-in-biddinghuizen-after-lull-in-cases/ &gt;>

Some 55,000 chickens will have to be killed following an outbreak of bird flu at a poultry farm in Biddinghuizen, Flevoland, the agriculture ministry has said.

There will be a 10-kilometre transport exclusion zone around the farm to prevent the virus from spreading. No eggs or birds from the farm are allowed to leave the area for a month.

No manure or used bedding may be transported from the 25 other poultry farms in the area, and farmers must keep their chickens indoors to prevent them from coming into contact with wild birds.

The measures fall short of a national ban on free-roaming chickens, which had been suspended just three weeks ago following a lull in the number of cases. The ban, in place since October last year, now only affects the Gelderse Vallei, an area with many poultry farms.

At the moment, the outbreak in Biddinghuizen does not justify another nationwide ban, the ministry said.

According to ministry figures from December last year, nearly 1.6 million birds have been killed so far in an effort to contain the ongoing bird flu epidemic.

https://especial.larepublica.pe/la-republica-sostenible/2026/05/12/detectan-brotes-de-influenza-aviar-en-la-region-lambayeque-756984 Google translation >>

An influenza outbreak was confirmed by Senasa , which detected four cases in different districts of the region.

So far this year, authorities from the National Agrarian Health Service (Senasa) have confirmed at least four isolated outbreaks of avian influenza in different districts of the Lambayeque region , which has raised alerts among local producers, although for now a major risk to the formal poultry industry is ruled out.

Avian Influenza Outbreak

This was reported by the executive director of Senasa-Lambayeque , Félix Bobadilla Morales , who added that the cases have been detected in areas such as Pomalca , Pucalá , San José and Monsefú , and correspond to the same type of virus registered in previous years ( 2019 and 2021 ).

“These outbreaks are mainly linked to domestic or backyard farming, where biosecurity conditions are often limited,” he noted.

“Birds raised intensively in confined spaces, often in contact with wild birds, facilitate the spread of the virus,” Bobadilla explained . Despite this, he emphasized that the country maintains its avian influenza-free status in commercial farms , which reduces the large-scale economic impact.

In the specific case of Motupe , the authority ruled out the presence of avian influenza and specified that the mortality recorded in the area was due to another virus: infectious laryngotracheitis , a different disease that affects only birds.

However, in the Picsi sector, a new isolated case of avian influenza was confirmed , along with an outbreak of classical swine fever (CSF) in pigs.

Senasa activates protocols for avian influenza outbreak

In response to this situation, Senasa activated emergency protocols , including the declaration of quarantine , the sanitary slaughter of infected animals and those in contact with them, as well as the disinfection of premises .

The Senasa authority stated that epidemiological surveillance actions have also been deployed within a 10-kilometer radius of the detected outbreaks, with the aim of preventing the spread to other livestock farms.

Despite concerns raised by reports of mass deaths of birds and other animals in some rural areas, the specialist insisted that these are isolated incidents and are currently under control. "The loss of animals has been minimal, and the outbreaks are not as severe as in previous years," he stated.

Finally, he urged the public not to sell sick animals and to immediately report any suspected cases to Senasa . “Selling infected animals could spread the disease. It is essential to comply with health measures,” he warned.

The authority also clarified that these diseases do not pose a risk to human health, but they can seriously affect the economy of families that depend on raising animals.

What is avian influenza?

Avian influenza , also known as bird flu , is an infectious disease that primarily affects birds and is caused by a virus of the Orthomyxoviridae family .

Depending on its subtype, avian influenza can be classified as low pathogenic or highly pathogenic, and may present different symptoms in infected birds. Low pathogenic avian influenza virus can cause a mild illness that may go unnoticed or be asymptomatic. High pathogenic avian influenza virus , primarily the H5 and H7 subtypes of type A, causes severe disease in birds that can spread rapidly and produce high mortality rates in various species.

Most influenza viruses circulating in birds are not zoonotic. However, some highly pathogenic avian influenza strains can infect humans, posing a threat to public health.

How is avian flu transmitted and what are its symptoms?

The most common way the virus enters a territory is through migratory wild birds . The main risk factor for transmission from birds to humans is direct or indirect contact with infected animals or with environments and surfaces contaminated by feces. Plucking, handling the carcasses of infected poultry , and preparing poultry for consumption, especially in domestic settings, can also be risk factors.

When avian influenza is transmitted to humans, symptoms can range from a mild upper respiratory infection ( fever and cough ) to severe pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome ( difficulty breathing ), shock, and even death.

In 2023 , in response to the increasing spread of the A(H5N1) virus in birds and the detection of human cases in the Region of the Americas , a high-level regional consultation was organized by PAHO , bringing together national authorities, technical experts, and international partners. As a result, the need for an intersectoral technical platform to coordinate the regional response under a One Health approach was identified. To this end, the Intersectoral Technical Commission for the Prevention and Control of Zoonotic Influenza in the Americas (CIPCIZA) was created . See the report on the CIPCIZA Expert Group : Working Group Meeting, Surveillance , Laboratory , and Intersectoral Risk Assessment ( October 2024 ).