Bird Flu Outbreak Spreads Across North America and Europe Threatening Poultry Supplies and Agricultural Sectors

Bird Flu Bulletin: Daily H5N1 Update Wednesday, October 22, 2025 Good afternoon, today is Wednesday, October 22, 2025. This is the Bird Flu Bulletin: Daily H5N1 Update. Here are the top stories shaping the global landscape for avian influenza in the past 24 hours. Top Stories First, the resurgence of H5N1 in North America continues to accelerate. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that almost seven million farmed birds have died nationwide since early September, with a sharp rise noted in both commercial chicken and turkey flocks. Particularly concerning, around 1.3 million turkey losses threaten the upcoming Thanksgiving supply, according to The New York Times. Second, California agricultural authorities have identified a new variant: the H5N1 genotype D1.1. Confirmed this week in dairy cattle in Nevada for the first time, it is now the predominant strain across North American bird migration flyways. State officials have extended strict movement restrictions and bans on all poultry and dairy cattle exhibitions across at least nine California counties, aiming to protect both commercial and backyard flocks. This comes amid ongoing rapid spread in wild birds as well as in domestic poultry, as detailed by the California Department of Food and Agriculture. Third, the European Union continues to combat new outbreaks as the virus hits professional poultry farms in Belgium. Health authorities there are urging all poultry keepers to reinforce protective biosecurity measures, given the nearly simultaneous spikes in both the U.S. and parts of Europe. The Belgian national health institute reminds the public that while the overall risk to humans remains low, caution is warranted for people and pets around sick or dead birds. Case Numbers Update Compared to yesterday, the number of confirmed cases in U.S. flocks has unfortunately risen, now including multiple new detections in commercial farms and small backyard flocks. The total number of birds culled this season has reached nearly seven million, up from 6.85 million the day before. There are no new human cases in the United States reported in the last 24 hours. Globally, only a handful of sporadic human cases have occurred, mainly linked to direct animal contact. New Guidance The USDA and state animal health authorities reaffirm the ban on poultry and cattle exhibitions in heavily affected states, especially California, and stress the importance of robust flock biosecurity, limiting wildlife interactions, and reporting any unexplained illness or deaths in both birds and mammals. Belgian authorities urge pet owners to keep dogs leashed and away from wild birds on walks. Major supermarkets and food suppliers are monitoring potential supply chain impacts for both poultry and dairy products. Expert Interview We spoke today with Dr. Mieke Steensels of Belgium’s national health institute, Sciensano: "Although people and most mammals are not highly susceptible to H5N1, caution is necessary. P This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.