US Avian Flu Cases Drop Sharply: Only 1 Poultry Case Reported as Bird Flu Surveillance Continues

Avian flu detections in the US have dropped significantly this past week, with only one new poultry case reported in Meade County, South Dakota, affecting 60 birds, according to the US Department of Agricultures Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service via CIDRAP. Wild bird infections included gulls in San Diego County, California, and a bald eagle in Clay County, Florida, among 12 detections. In the past 30 days, APHIS tracked the virus in 15 commercial flocks and eight backyard flocks nationwide, impacting 660,000 birds. February 2026 saw the highest toll this year at 11.41 million poultry affected. Colorado reports more cases early this year than at this point in 2025, including a major hit to 1.33 million egg-laying chickens in Weld County, per the Colorado Department of Agriculture, though no human spillover since summer 2024. The state has confirmed 10 human cases total in agricultural workers, all mild with flu-like symptoms treatable by antivirals. CDC surveillance shows no unusual flu activity in people, with over 32,600 monitored and 1,320 tested for novel influenza A since February 2022, and no recent indicators of sustained human spread. Globally, H5N1 surfaced in 44 dead peacocks in Indias Karnataka state, prompting surveillance in 38 villages, infected zones within 3 kilometers, and human screenings for flu-like illnesses, as reported in local news updates. Canadas Auditor General noted on May 4 that federal bird flu responses are working but gaps remain, including over 95 percent of vaccine doses expiring unused by February. No human cases or deaths linked to bird flu emerged in the US in the last 24 hours. 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.