Bird Flu Alert: H5N1 Spreads in Snow Geese, Dairy Herds Remain Infected Amid Low Human Risk
17 December 2025

Bird Flu Alert: H5N1 Spreads in Snow Geese, Dairy Herds Remain Infected Amid Low Human Risk

Bird Flu Bulletin: Daily H5N1 Update

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Bird Flu Bulletin: Daily H5N1 Update

[Host voice, urgent yet calm] Good evening, this is your Bird Flu Bulletin: Daily H5N1 Update for Wednesday, December 17, 2025.

Top stories from the last 24 hours: First, Pennsylvania state officials confirmed approximately 400 snow geese dead in Lower Nazareth Township from highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1, marking a continued resurgence in wild birds as noted by the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Second, the European Food Safety Authority released a new opinion stating the risk of US dairy cattle H5N1 spreading to Europe remains very low, though biosecurity and surveillance are urged, building on their July 2025 report. Third, USDA APHIS reported ongoing HPAI detections in wild birds, including recent cases in Florida's St. Johns County confirmed as EA H5 subtype as of December 8.

On case numbers: CDC reports the national total of confirmed and probable H5 human cases since 2024 holds steady at 71, with no new US cases in the last 24 hours compared to yesterday. This includes 41 from dairy herds, mostly in California with 38 total. Globally, WHO notes the November 20 confirmation of the 71st US case, a fatal H5N5 infection in Washington state—the first human H5N5 worldwide and first US case since February—with no human-to-human transmission detected.

Health authorities: CDC maintains the public risk is low, recommending 10-day monitoring for those exposed to infected animals. No new guidance today, but EFSA emphasizes pasteurization inactivates the virus, with no foodborne human illnesses reported.

And now, a brief word from Dr. Scott Hensley, microbiologist at the University of Pennsylvania: "The current 2.3.4.4b clade of H5N1 has infected more birds and mammals than any before, which is alarming, but it doesn't easily infect human airways—though mutations could change that, so vigilance is key." [Nature interview snippet]

Looking ahead: Expect monthly CDC flu surveillance updates on the first Friday, potential new wild bird die-offs in migration paths per Pennsylvania trends, and ongoing EFSA monitoring for any dairy import risks into Europe.

Thank you for tuning in. Come back next week for more. This has been a Quiet Please production—for me, check out Quiet Please Dot A I. Stay safe.

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