H5N1 Bird Flu Update February 2026 CDC Reports 71 Human Cases Low Public Risk Despite 1000 Affected Dairy Herds

H5N1 Bird Flu Briefing: Public Health Alert

Good afternoon. This is the Public Health Authority delivering today's H5N1 Bird Flu Briefing. Our purpose is to update you on the current situation, outline risks, and provide clear action steps to protect yourself and your community. While the virus remains widespread in wild birds, poultry, and U.S. dairy cows, the CDC assesses the public health risk to the general population as low, with no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission.

As of February 2026, the USDA reports over 1,000 dairy herds affected across 17 states, including California with 759 cases, and more than 168 million birds depopulated nationwide since 2024. Human cases stand at 71 since 2024, mostly mild among dairy and poultry workers, per CDC data, with two fatalities linked to severe complications like pneumonia and multi-organ failure. This matters because the virus's 2.3.4.4b clade spreads efficiently via wild migratory birds, creating ongoing spillover risks to mammals and farms, as noted in CRV Science's comprehensive status report. Enhanced federal milk testing has improved detection and control.

Seek medical attention immediately for severe symptoms: high fever over 103F, difficulty breathing, chest pain, confusion, persistent dizziness, or seizures. These signal potential aggressive pneumonia or respiratory distress. Monitor at home milder signs like conjunctivitis, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, headache, or fatigue for 10 days post-exposure; isolate and call your doctor if they worsen or persist beyond 48 hours. CDC surveillance shows most cases are mild from direct animal contact.

For poultry workers and high-risk settings like dairy farms: Follow USDA containment protocols. Use full PPE including N95 masks, goggles, gowns, and gloves during culling or milking. Report sick birds or cows immediately to state agriculture departments. Quarantine exposed animals, disinfect equipment daily, and avoid raw milk. States like New Jersey, now at Stage 4 unaffected status, exemplify successful bulk milk testing.

General public guidelines by priority:
First, avoid contact with sick or dead wild birds, poultry, or cattle. Do not touch or consume raw milk or undercooked poultry products; pasteurization kills the virus, keeping commercial milk safe per FDA and NJ Health.
Second, keep pets away from wild animals and raw foods, as cats have died from infected milk.
Third, practice hand hygiene, cover coughs, and stay home if ill.
Fourth, hunters and backyard flock owners: Report dead birds and cook game thoroughly.

For more, visit CDC.gov/bird-flu or USDA APHIS sites. Emergencies: Call 911 or your local health department hotline.

Thank you for tuning in. Stay vigilant and healthy. Join us next week for more. This has been a Quiet Please production. For me, check out Quiet Please Dot A I.

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