H5N1 Bird Flu Spreads: Two New Human Cases Reported as US and UK See Continued Outbreaks in Poultry

Bird Flu Bulletin: Daily H5N1 Update Monday, September 22, 2025 This is Bird Flu Bulletin: Daily H5N1 Update. It’s Monday, September 22, 2025. Here are today’s top stories. Top Stories First, two more human cases of H5N1 avian influenza have been officially reported worldwide in the last 24 hours, according to the latest update from the Food and Agriculture Organization. These cases were detected in areas with ongoing outbreaks in poultry and wild bird populations, signaling continued risk to people with close animal contact. Second, in the United States, California confirmed another probable case, pushing the national total to 70 confirmed and probable human cases since January, as tracked by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. California continues to lead U.S. states in both dairy herd and overall human H5N1 cases, accounting for more than half of the national tally. Third, the United Kingdom updated its bird flu status after three new outbreaks were confirmed in commercial poultry across England and Wales over the past day, according to the UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs. This increases England’s H5N1 total for the current outbreak to 70, with the overall UK count reaching 79 since November last year. Case Numbers Compared to yesterday, there are two new reported human H5N1 cases globally. In the U.S., today’s update reflects one new probable case, with state-level increases only in California. The animal outbreak tally worldwide rose by eight new reports in the past 24 hours, notably in the U.S., Spain, and France, based on the FAO data. Health Authority Guidance The CDC continues to emphasize avoiding direct contact with sick or dead wild birds and reporting unusual clusters of sick animals. Mandatory enhanced biosecurity measures remain in effect in affected parts of England; the updated Avian Influenza Prevention Zone orders require stricter on-farm sanitation and movement restrictions. The World Health Organization advises that while human infections remain rare, all countries should reinforce diagnostic capability and protective equipment supply for farm and laboratory workers. Expert Interview Snippet Dr. Lena Torres, a veterinary epidemiologist with the World Organisation for Animal Health, spoke to us earlier: “The lines between animal and human health are especially thin now. Most human H5N1 cases are still tied to direct animal exposure, but the continued virus circulation in mammals—especially cattle—raises important questions about adaptation and spillover in the coming months.” Looking Ahead Tomorrow experts expect new data on the effectiveness of the updated poultry vaccination campaign in western Europe. U.S. officials will release revised guidance for dairy workers, following these recent animal-to-human transmission events. The FAO is also set to release a detailed regional risk map for southern Asia amid expanding outbreaks. Thank you for tuning in to Bird Flu Bulletin: Dail This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.