Bird Flu Spreads Rapidly Across US and Europe as Holiday Season Approaches Raising Concerns for Poultry Supply

This is Bird Flu Bulletin: Daily H5N1 Update. Today is Wednesday, November 26, 2025. Top stories: First, avian influenza continues its aggressive spread across multiple regions as the holiday season approaches. According to Farm Policy News, in the United States, more than 1.6 million birds have been affected in just the last 30 days, with 90 outbreaks reported in commercial and backyard flocks nationwide. The cumulative number since the start of the outbreak now exceeds 184 million infected birds. The risk to the poultry supply is rising as culling and movement restrictions intensify. Second, Washington State has reported the first global human death from the H5N5 strain of bird flu. Reuters and Dermatology Advisor confirm the fatality as of last Friday, marking a new and concerning development. This case underscores the ongoing risk of novel variants emerging and the importance of monitoring zoonotic spillover events. Third, European authorities are facing their highest incidence of bird flu in years. In Germany, more than 400,000 animals from over 30 farms have been culled since late October, especially in high-density poultry regions like Brandenburg. According to Lanxess and the German Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, this season's wave began earlier than usual, and officials are warning of potential short-term supply limitations for eggs and poultry meat as Christmas nears. Case numbers: Compared with yesterday, today brings confirmation of additional outbreaks in both the US and Europe but no major change in the overall global risk for human infection. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports the US now records 71 human infections with highly pathogenic avian influenza since the beginning of 2024. Most occurred through direct contact with infected animals on dairy and poultry farms. According to the UK Health Security Agency, the human health risk from H5N1 remains very low for the general public, and the Food Standards Agency reiterates that properly cooked poultry and eggs are safe to eat. Guidance from health authorities: Biosecurity measures remain the cornerstone of limiting spread. The US Department of Agriculture maintains strong surveillance and culling protocols. In the UK, the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone continues, requiring housing orders and enhanced hygiene. German authorities are urging strict barn hygiene and disinfection. LANXESS highlights the importance of fast-acting disinfectants like Virkon S to break infection chains in poultry facilities, emphasizing that careful biosecurity can keep food supplies safe despite ongoing outbreaks. Expert interview: We spoke with Dr. Elena Mauer, veterinary epidemiologist, about the current risk: "We are seeing an earlier and more intense season, with high virus pressure due to wild bird migrations. However, good farm management and biosecurity can prevent most human exposures, and there is still no indication of sustained human-to-human transmission." Looking ahea This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.