Welcome to H5N1 Global Scan: Avian Flu Worldwide. I’m your host, and today we’re taking you on a swift international tour of the status, research, and global responses to H5N1 avian influenza as of late 2025.

H5N1 continues to impact nearly every continent. Outbreaks persist across North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa, while Australia remains largely untouched. In 2024, Antarctica recorded its first-ever cases among wild bird populations—a stark sign of worldwide spread, and scientists warn this could threaten remote animal populations never before exposed.

In the Americas, the Pan American Health Organization confirms that 19 countries have reported over 5,000 H5N1 outbreaks since 2022. Both avian and mammalian cases are rising, with the United States and Mexico documenting human infections linked mainly to contact with infected poultry or dairy herds. The U.S. alone saw more than 20 million chickens culled late last year, causing egg shortages and illustrating ongoing threats to agriculture and food supply.

Europe faces continued pressure with cases in poultry, mammals, and sporadically in humans. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control details outbreaks, especially near migratory bird routes, and closely surveils livestock populations. Asia’s experience is more acute: outbreaks from China and Southeast Asia often present dual challenges of high viral diversity and frequent human-animal interaction. Cambodia and Vietnam have both faced clusters of human cases tied to new H5N1 reassortants—meaning the virus is swapping genetic material with other flu viruses, complicating control efforts. Africa’s poultry sector, essential for food security, has been hit by repeated waves of infection, impacting trade and local economies.

Major international research is underway. The World Health Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization, and the World Organisation for Animal Health are coordinating joint risk assessments. Their July 2025 assessment concludes the public health risk remains low globally but rises to moderate for workers in close contact with animals. Notably, there is still no sustained human-to-human transmission; almost all cases involve direct contact with infected birds or contaminated environments.

Global vaccine research has accelerated, particularly since new viral clades—such as 2.3.4.4b—emerged, infecting a broader range of species. Multiple promising vaccine candidates for poultry are entering field trials, while human vaccines are in development but remain in limited supply, reserved mainly for at-risk groups.

Countries vary widely in their containment responses. The U.S. has deployed mass culling, strict surveillance, and on-farm biosecurity. European Union states add mandatory reporting and compensation for affected farms. Southeast Asian nations emphasize community education and compensation, given the importance of backyard farming. Cross-border cooperation, especially for migratory bird monitoring, is a global priority—because viruses do not respect geopolitical boundaries.

Trade disruptions continue as countries enact export bans on poultry and eggs, affecting food prices and supply chains internationally. In 2024, several Asian and European exporters had their poultry temporarily barred from key importing regions.

From the global health community, the message remains clear: vigilance, rapid detection, and international data sharing are essential. As the FAO urges, we must expand animal vaccination and surveillance, and as the WHO cautions, invest in preparedness before the next influenza pandemic emerges.

Thanks for tuning in to H5N1 Global Scan: Avian Flu Worldwide. Join us again next week for another international focus. This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, visit Quiet Please Dot A I.

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