H5N1 Bird Flu Spreads Across US and Europe with 71 Human Cases and One Fatality Reported in 2026

BIRD FLU BULLETIN: DAILY H5N1 UPDATE Welcome to Bird Flu Bulletin, your daily H5N1 news update. This is Wednesday, January 28th, 2026. TOP STORIES Our first story focuses on ongoing H5N1 spread across the United States. According to the US Department of Agriculture, highly pathogenic avian influenza continues circulating in wild birds and poultry operations nationwide. Recent detections have been confirmed in multiple states, with the virus affecting both commercial facilities and backyard flocks. The CDC reports that since 2024, 71 confirmed and probable human cases have occurred in the United States, with 41 linked to dairy herd exposure and 24 connected to poultry farms and culling operations. One death has been reported in Louisiana, marking the first fatality from H5 bird flu in the country. Our second story concerns international developments. The Centre for Health Protection reports that as of January 24th, 2026, no new human cases of H5N6 have been documented since January began. However, 93 cumulative cases of H5N6 have been confirmed globally since 2014, with the majority occurring in China. Meanwhile, H7N9 has not produced any new human infections since October 2025, though it has caused 1,568 total cases since 2013. Our third story highlights European surveillance findings. The Food and Agriculture Organization reports significant H5N1 activity across European nations. Germany leads with 254 recent events reported, followed by the United Kingdom with 124 events. Belgium, France, and the Netherlands are also experiencing substantial outbreak activity. These detections span both commercial poultry operations and wild bird populations, including eagles, swans, and various waterfowl species. CASE NUMBER UPDATES Human infection rates remain relatively stable compared to recent weeks. The CDC's most recent influenza surveillance report from Week 1 of 2026, ending January 10th, showed 18.6 percent of respiratory specimens tested positive for influenza overall, with influenza A comprising 93 percent of positive cases. However, specific H5N1 human case numbers have plateaued, with no significant increases documented in the immediate past 24 hours. HEALTH AUTHORITY GUIDANCE The CDC continues monitoring all suspected cases and maintains its epidemiological investigation protocols. Current recommendations advise healthcare providers to test hospitalized patients with severe respiratory illness for avian influenza, particularly those with animal exposure histories. The agency emphasizes that human-to-human transmission remains extremely rare. EXPERT INSIGHT According to epidemiological research published in eLife Sciences, the H5 clade 2.3.4.4b variant has driven unprecedented mortality in wild birds and poultry globally. Since 2020, H5Nx and H5N1 cases have increased substantially, with 2022 witnessing over 131 million domestic poultry deaths or cullings across 67 countries. LOOKING AHEAD Tomorrow we anticipate continued surveillance