Bird Flu Update: California Park Reopens After H5N1 Outbreak Kills Seals, US Outbreak Hits 197 Million Birds

Good morning, this is your bird flu update. In the US, Año Nuevo State Park in San Mateo County, California, announces the reopening of its preserve and elephant seal viewing areas on Saturday, April 11, after a highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 outbreak killed dozens of northern elephant seals, according to KION Central Coast and CBS News San Francisco. Park officials report 32 seals tested positive in San Mateo County plus four in Santa Cruz County, with two California sea lions and one southern sea otter also affected; they urge visitors not to touch seals or let pets approach. The USDA warns this remains the largest bird flu outbreak in US history, with over 197 million birds infected or dead since 2022, now hitting backyard flocks in Kentucky via migrating wild birds, per WEKU. Poultry owners should watch for symptoms like lethargy, ataxia, or sudden death and contact vets immediately. Chick-fil-A reports it may miss its 2026 cage-free egg pledge due to ongoing bird flu supply disruptions, as stated on their website via Fox News. CDC surveillance shows no unusual human flu activity, with over 32,600 people monitored since 2022 and just 130 tested since late September 2025, all negative for novel influenza spread. Globally, Taiwan confirmed its first human H7 avian flu case in a poultry farmer on April 2, Poultrymed reports. Argentina faces 21 commercial H5N1 outbreaks as of April, prompting vaccination debates, while Japan notes 23 outbreaks in its 2025-2026 season. A red fox in Nome, Alaska, tested positive for HPAI last month, per Nome Nugget. Public risk stays low, but avoid 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. For more http://www.quietplease.ai Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.