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Tag: Bird flu

  • Why bald eagles may hold clues in bird flu fight

    A spike in wild bird flu cases across Iowa has researchers watching migration patterns, testing carcasses, and swabbing beaks daily at the State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in Ames. Since 2022, more than 30 million poultry and wild birds have died from highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Iowa.As the virus settles into a fall-and-winter cycle, one species is drawing particular interest from scientists: the bald eagle. Despite frequently scavenging infected carcasses, adult bald eagles appear to be surviving at higher rates than many other birds. Researchers believe understanding why could help unlock new insights into the disease.Hearst sister station KCCI spoke with Rachel Ruden, the state wildlife veterinarian for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, about what’s driving the latest outbreak — and why the nation’s symbol may be key to understanding it.Q: What are researchers seeing with bird flu in Iowa right now?Ruden: We had a spike back in September. We saw Dubuque impacted heavily and parts of central and north central Iowa, then things went quiet through October and November. After the first week of December, we started getting reports of sick and dead geese again. What’s interesting is southern Iowa has been impacted pretty heavily. In the past, south of I-80, we really didn’t see mass mortality events related to HPAI.Q: How has bird flu changed since it first appeared in Iowa?Ruden: We were first impacted with highly pathogenic avian influenza in March of 2022. Prior to that, it was not a virus that circulated in our wild bird population in North America or South America. It was in other parts of the world.In March of 2022, it arrived during spring migration — a vulnerable time in terms of birds nesting and producing young. Now we’ve really seen it transition into this fall and winter pattern, oftentimes late fall into winter. Q: Which species are being hit the hardest?Ruden: The animals that have been impacted have primarily been Canada geese. They’re a numerous winter resident. They also do their fall migration in mid-December. So those birds bring virus from other parts and they flyway.Other things that we see very commonly are red tail hawks because these are raptors, a bird that is likely scavenging on carcasses of dead geese. That is also why there is public concern about bald eagles. Q: Many people worry about bald eagles scavenging dead geese. What are you finding?Ruden: I have been testing bald eagles since late 2024. Evidence shows that they’ve been exposed and actually survived that exposure. In adult bald eagles, 70% have had antibodies. That’s a good indicator of resilience in that population. Q: Why are bald eagles so important to this research?Ruden: We can learn a lot and maybe leverage that for therapeutics. That disparity in deaths amongst raptor species that might be scavenging on the same sick birds … if one tends to die and one tends to live, that’s interesting, so I would love to push that further.Q: Does that mean bald eagles are immune to bird flu?Ruden: We’ve seen hatch-year eagles — younger birds — that are more vulnerable, similar to what we see in young swans or other juvenile birds. But adult eagles appear to have a much higher survival rate.Q: How does this affect Iowa’s poultry industry?Ruden: Iowa leads the country in egg and poultry production, so there’s always concern. Early in the outbreak, the impact was significant. But improved biosecurity and better surveillance have made a big difference. This season, only two poultry sites have been affected so far, even with widespread bird flu activity in wild birds.Q: What should people do if they find a sick or dead bird?Ruden: The best step is to contact your county conservation department or a local wildlife professional. They’ll decide whether testing is needed and notify our lab if it could help research. If a dead bird is on private property, people can safely remove it using disposable gloves and double-bagging it before placing it in the trash.Q: Is bird flu a concern for human health?Ruden: Human cases in the U.S. have primarily been linked to poultry or dairy workers with close, prolonged exposure. There’s no known transmission from wild birds to humans in casual encounters. Still, people should avoid handling sick birds and use basic precautions if removing a dead one.Q: What’s next for bird flu research in Iowa?Ruden: We’re still learning. Bird flu is now a global phenomenon, and there’s always a risk of reintroduction. The goal moving forward is to use what we’re observing — especially species that survive exposure, like bald eagles — to guide future research. That takes time and funding, but every test helps us better understand what we’re dealing with.As outbreaks continue to shape Iowa’s wildlife landscape, researchers say one thing is clear: bird flu is no longer a one-time event, but a recurring reality — and the answers may be soaring overhead.

    A spike in wild bird flu cases across Iowa has researchers watching migration patterns, testing carcasses, and swabbing beaks daily at the State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in Ames. Since 2022, more than 30 million poultry and wild birds have died from highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Iowa.

    As the virus settles into a fall-and-winter cycle, one species is drawing particular interest from scientists: the bald eagle. Despite frequently scavenging infected carcasses, adult bald eagles appear to be surviving at higher rates than many other birds. Researchers believe understanding why could help unlock new insights into the disease.

    Hearst sister station KCCI spoke with Rachel Ruden, the state wildlife veterinarian for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, about what’s driving the latest outbreak — and why the nation’s symbol may be key to understanding it.

    Q: What are researchers seeing with bird flu in Iowa right now?

    Ruden: We had a spike back in September. We saw Dubuque impacted heavily and parts of central and north central Iowa, then things went quiet through October and November. After the first week of December, we started getting reports of sick and dead geese again. What’s interesting is southern Iowa has been impacted pretty heavily. In the past, south of I-80, we really didn’t see mass mortality events related to HPAI.

    Q: How has bird flu changed since it first appeared in Iowa?

    Ruden: We were first impacted with highly pathogenic avian influenza in March of 2022. Prior to that, it was not a virus that circulated in our wild bird population in North America or South America. It was in other parts of the world.

    Mark Vancleave

    Angel, a 26-year-old bald eagle from Wisconsin that was too gravely injured to be returned to the wild, serves as “ambassador” to visitors at the National Eagle Center in Wabasha, Minn., on Wednesday, July 9, 2025.

    In March of 2022, it arrived during spring migration — a vulnerable time in terms of birds nesting and producing young. Now we’ve really seen it transition into this fall and winter pattern, oftentimes late fall into winter.

    Q: Which species are being hit the hardest?

    Ruden: The animals that have been impacted have primarily been Canada geese. They’re a numerous winter resident. They also do their fall migration in mid-December. So those birds bring virus from other parts and they flyway.

    Other things that we see very commonly are red tail hawks because these are raptors, a bird that is likely scavenging on carcasses of dead geese. That is also why there is public concern about bald eagles.

    Q: Many people worry about bald eagles scavenging dead geese. What are you finding?

    Ruden: I have been testing bald eagles since late 2024. Evidence shows that they’ve been exposed and actually survived that exposure. In adult bald eagles, 70% have had antibodies. That’s a good indicator of resilience in that population.

    Q: Why are bald eagles so important to this research?

    Ruden: We can learn a lot and maybe leverage that for therapeutics. That disparity in deaths amongst raptor species that might be scavenging on the same sick birds … if one tends to die and one tends to live, that’s interesting, so I would love to push that further.

    Q: Does that mean bald eagles are immune to bird flu?

    Ruden: We’ve seen hatch-year eagles — younger birds — that are more vulnerable, similar to what we see in young swans or other juvenile birds. But adult eagles appear to have a much higher survival rate.

    Q: How does this affect Iowa’s poultry industry?

    Ruden: Iowa leads the country in egg and poultry production, so there’s always concern. Early in the outbreak, the impact was significant. But improved biosecurity and better surveillance have made a big difference. This season, only two poultry sites have been affected so far, even with widespread bird flu activity in wild birds.

    Q: What should people do if they find a sick or dead bird?

    Ruden: The best step is to contact your county conservation department or a local wildlife professional. They’ll decide whether testing is needed and notify our lab if it could help research. If a dead bird is on private property, people can safely remove it using disposable gloves and double-bagging it before placing it in the trash.

    Q: Is bird flu a concern for human health?

    Ruden: Human cases in the U.S. have primarily been linked to poultry or dairy workers with close, prolonged exposure. There’s no known transmission from wild birds to humans in casual encounters. Still, people should avoid handling sick birds and use basic precautions if removing a dead one.

    Q: What’s next for bird flu research in Iowa?

    Ruden: We’re still learning. Bird flu is now a global phenomenon, and there’s always a risk of reintroduction. The goal moving forward is to use what we’re observing — especially species that survive exposure, like bald eagles — to guide future research. That takes time and funding, but every test helps us better understand what we’re dealing with.

    As outbreaks continue to shape Iowa’s wildlife landscape, researchers say one thing is clear: bird flu is no longer a one-time event, but a recurring reality — and the answers may be soaring overhead.

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  • Washington state resident dies after contracting a bird flu strain never before detected in humans, officials say

    A Washington state man is believed to be the first person to die from a rare strain of bird flu, but state health officials said Friday the risk to the public is low.

    The man, an older adult with underlying health conditions, was being treated for a bird flu called H5N5 after becoming seemingly the first known human infected by the strain, according to a statement from the Washington State Department of Health. 

    It was the nation’s first human case of bird flu since February.

    The man from Grays Harbor County, about 78 miles southwest of Seattle, had a backyard flock of domestic poultry that had been exposed to wild birds, health officials said.

    “The risk to the public remains low,” the statement from state health officials said. “No other people involved have tested positive for avian influenza.”

    Health officials said they will monitor anyone who came in close contact with the man, but “there is no evidence of transmission of this virus between people.”

    Earlier this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a statement about the infection that said no information would suggest “the risk to public health has increased as a result of this case.”

    H5N5 is not believed to be a greater threat to human health than the H5N1 virus behind a wave of 70 reported human infections in the U.S. in 2024 and 2025. Most of those have been mild illnesses in workers on dairy and poultry farms.

    The distinction between H5N5 and H5N1 lies in a protein involved in releasing the virus from an infected cell and promoting spread to surrounding cells.

    Bird flu has been detected in a variety of bird populations since January 2022, and in March of last year, it was found in dairy cows for the first time. 

    Bird flu can infect birds as well as mammals, including pigs, cattle and cats. People can also get infected when they come into close contact with infected animals, which is why farm workers are at high risk for infection. 

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  • Washington state resident dies of new H5N5 form of bird flu

    The first person infected with the H5N5 bird flu has died, according to health officials in Washington.

    The person, who lived in Grays Harbor County, had been hospitalized earlier this month in Kings County, where Seattle is located.

    Officials from the Washington State Department of Health did not release the person’s name, age or gender. According to a news release from Grays Harbor County health officials last week, the person was considered “older” and had underlying health conditions. Their symptoms included a high fever, confusion and trouble breathing.

    The person had a backyard flock consisting of mixed domestic poultry.

    Testing by the health department found virus in the “environment of the flock … making exposure to the domestic poultry, their environment, or wild birds the most likely source of exposure for this patient.”

    Officials at the state’s health department said they were monitoring other people who were exposed to the flock and environment.

    This particular strain of bird flu, H5N5, had never been seen in a person before. It appeared first in 2023, infecting birds and mammals in eastern Canada.

    According to research published last year on the novel strain, some infected animals carried a key mutation in the virus that allows it to transfer more easily between mammals.

    Epidemiologists and virologists worry that avian influenza could generate a pandemic if allowed to spread and mutate. For instance, the H5N1 virus circulating in dairy cattle in North America is one mutation away from being able to spread easily between people.

    Every time a bird flu virus infects a person, concerns grow that it could change, becoming more transmissible or more deadly. For instance, if a sickened person also has another flu virus replicating in their body, there’s concern the viruses could exchange genetic material. Just by having an opportunity to replicate and evolve millions of times in the human body, it could acquire deadly mutations.

    Health officials say the risk to the public remains low and that no other people involved have tested positive for avian influenza. They say there is no evidence of transmission of the virus between people, but they are monitoring anyone who was in close contact with the patient.

    Susanne Rust

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  • Turkey safe to eat despite bird flu

    Turkeys are supposed to go “gobble-gobble,” not “Ah-CHOO!” 

    But bird flu is on the rise in the U.S. again. 

    The recent jump in cases might hike the price of your Thanksgiving, but it won’t make dinner unsafe. Cooking poultry to 165°F kills the virus. Plus, infected poultry is unlikely to appear in the food supply in the first place. 

    To ease your mind, here’s a quick flap through need-to-knows about bird flu ahead of the holiday week.

    What is bird flu?

    Bird flu, or avian influenza, is a naturally occurring disease among wild birds, including ducks and geese, that can also infect domesticated birds, such as chickens and turkeys.

    The U.S. has been battling flu outbreaks in commercial poultry flocks since 2022. After a summer lull, cases are rising again. Because avian flu spreads quickly and is untreatable in animals, if even one bird in a flock is infected, the entire flock is culled.

    The American Farm Bureau reported in October that since the beginning of the outbreak, 18.7 million turkeys were affected. Including chickens and other poultry, over 180 million birds across more than 1,800 flocks had been affected as of Nov. 20. 

    Bird flu raised wholesale turkey prices, retail price impact is unclear

    The outbreak is pushing wholesale turkey prices higher. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s latest Weekly National Turkey Report (yes, that’s a thing) from Nov. 14 lists the cost of a whole frozen turkey as $1.77 a pound for an 8 to 16 pound bird. That’s up from 97¢ per pound during the same week last year. 

    It’s less clear how that affects retail prices. 

    The American Farm Bureau’s annual Thanksgiving dinner survey found the average retail price for a 16-lb turkey was down 16% percent from last year, at an average of $1.34 per pound. This price drop, despite rising wholesale costs, might be from grocery stores offering Thanksgiving deals to draw consumers in. Retailers often treat turkeys as a “loss leader,” which means companies accept losses on that item and make up the difference from customers’ purchases of other, higher-margin items.

    Purdue’s Center for Food Demand Analysis & Sustainability, on the other hand, estimates the price will be higher than last year at $2.05 per pound, a 25% increase. 

    Prices for a turkey can vary by size, quality, and the store where you buy it, so shop wisely. 

    Cooked turkey is safe to eat

    Unless you’re looking for an excuse to cancel, you can tell Aunt Marge turkey dinner is still on. 

    Cooking poultry and eggs to 165°F kills viruses, including bird flu. Assuming that your food is properly prepared and cooked, it’s safe to eat. This is also a reminder to thaw your turkey!

    You should follow safe cooking guidelines no matter what, but there are other safeguards in place to prevent bird flu from entering the food supply.

    Laws require that all meat and poultry sold commercially pass USDA safety inspection. 

    A USDA spokesperson told PolitiFact that inspectors are present at all federally regulated processing and slaughtering facilities. “Our inspectors verify that facilities maintain sanitary conditions, handle animals humanely, and that their food safety systems are working to prevent contamination with harmful bacteria like E. coli and Salmonella.”  

    The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service also samples and tests products to make sure they meet safety standards. 

    Can humans get bird flu? 

    Yes, but it’s rare. Infections can happen when the bird flu virus enters a person’s eyes, nose or mouth, or is inhaled.

    But you can be infected only by an animal. There have been no cases of human-to-human transmission.

    People who work with livestock are most at risk of contracting the virus. Since 2024, the CDC has confirmed 71 human cases in the U.S., resulting in one death. The CDC says the public health risk is still low.

    Cows get bird flu, too 

    Since 2024, bird flu has also been detected in dairy cows and their milk. The USDA is monitoring the milk supply; the best way to stay safe is to drink pasteurized milk, not raw milk. 

    Pasteurization, which involves briefly heating milk to below boiling, kills bird flu and other viruses. Most grocery store milk and dairy products are pasteurized. 

    The USDA has found no evidence of the virus in the beef supply. Plus, a safety study the agency conducted found that even after injecting beef patties with high levels of the virus, cooking them to 145°F killed the virus. 

    So Happy Thanksgiving, tell Aunt Marge I said hi and order that meat thermometer! 

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  • Washington resident infected with different strain of bird flu, health officials say

    A Washington resident has been hospitalized with a different strain of bird flu than those seen in past cases, state health officials announced Friday.

    The person was infected with a bird flu called H5N5. State and federal health officials say it appears to be the first known human infection with the H5N5 bird flu virus.

    The individual has a mixed backyard flock that was exposed to wild birds, making either the domestic birds or the wild ones the most likely source of infection, the Washington State Department of Health said. Public health officials are continuing to investigate. 

    It is the nation’s first human case of bird flu since February. The older adult with underlying health conditions remains hospitalized. State health officials had announced the preliminary bird flu diagnosis on Thursday. On Friday, they said it had been confirmed. 

    The H5N5 version is not believed to be a greater threat to human health than the H5N1 virus behind a wave of 70 reported human infections in the U.S. in 2024 and 2025. Most of those have been mild illnesses in workers on dairy and poultry farms.

    “These viruses behave similarly,” said Richard Webby, a prominent flu researcher at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. “My gut instinct is to consider it the same as H5N1 from a human health perspective.”

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday issued a similar statement that said no information would suggest “the risk to public health has increased as a result of this case.”

    The agency is awaiting a specimen from Washington to conduct additional testing.

    The distinction between H5N5 and H5N1 lies in a protein involved in releasing the virus from an infected cell and promoting spread to surrounding cells.

    “Think along the lines of different brands of car tires. They both do the same job, it’s just each is better tuned for specific conditions, which we don’t fully understand,” Webby wrote in an email to The Associated Press.

    H5N5 may have a different preference for which kind of birds it most readily infects, he added.

    Bird flu has been detected in a variety of bird populations since January 2022, and in March of last year, it was found in dairy cows for the first time. 

    Bird flu can infect birds as well as mammals, including pigs, cattle and cats. People can also get infected when they come into close contact with infected animals, which is why farm workers are at high risk for infection. 

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  • Canadian ostrich farm loses long legal battle to avoid cull of its birds, despite plea from RFK Jr.

    The Supreme Court of Canada on Thursday unanimously dismissed a last-ditch appeal by an ostrich farm in British Columbia to save its flock of hundreds of birds. The government issued a cull order for the farm’s stock last year, and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said it would proceed with killing the ostriches to prevent an avian flu outbreak.

    “The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) will be moving forward to complete depopulation and disposal measures as authorized by the Health of Animals Act and guided by the stamping out policy for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI),” the CFIA said in a statement following the court’s decision.

    The CFIA did not say how the ostriches would be killed, but multiple gunshots were heard at the Universal Ostrich Farm on Thursday night, according to Canadian media. The gunfire could be heard on a live video stream on farm spokesperson Katie Pasitney’s Facebook page.

    Police tape is seen around an ostrich pen at Universal Ostrich Farms in Edgewood, British Columbia, Canada, in a photo posted on social media by farm spokeswoman Katie Pasitney on Oct. 18, 2025.

    Katie Pasitney/Universal Ostrich Farms/Facebook


    Pasitney made an emotional plea to the Supreme Court to rule against the cull just before Thursday’s court meeting, saying the birds were healthy and posed no threat.

    “Supreme Court of Canada, they are healthy. They are everything that we have and everything that we loved for 35 years, please stop,” she said in a video posted on social media. 

    It has been nearly a year since over 300 ostriches on the farm became embroiled in a legal battle between the CFIA and their owners in Edgewood, British Columbia.

    In early December 2024, an outbreak of the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus hit the farm, resulting in the deaths of nearly 70 birds within a few weeks. The CFIA described the outbreak as “unprecedented” and warned that it could have a significant impact on Canada’s poultry industry, ordering a cull of the affected birds. 

    “You want to know what pain looks like?” Pasitney asked in an emotional video posted online right after the court’s decision on Thursday, showing her mother, the farm’s owner, crying. “She is going to lose everything she has ever loved for 35 years … that’s what pain looks like when the government fails you.”

    Canada Bird Flu Ostriches

    Dave Bilinski, the co-owner of Universal Ostrich Farms, participates in a group prayer in Edgewood, British Columbia, Canada, following the announcement that the Supreme Court of Canada dismissed the farm’s appeal to stay an order to cull more than 300 of its ostriches, Nov. 6, 2025.

    Aaron Hemens/The Canadian Press via AP


    The CFIA said it takes its responsibility to protect the health of both animals and Canadians extremely seriously, and that it takes all disease control measures deemed necessary to protect health and trade.

    “Given that the flock has had multiple laboratory-confirmed cases of H5N1 and the ongoing serious risks for animal and human health and trade, the CFIA continues planning for humane depopulation with veterinary oversight at the infected premises,” the agency said.

    The case drew attention from the U.S. government, with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., along with the director of the National Institutes of Health and the commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, sending a letter to the head of the CFIA in May asking him to reconsider the cull, arguing that the ostriches could be valuable to study.

    “We are respectfully requesting CFIA to consider not culling the entire flock of ostriches at Universal Ostrich Farm,” Kennedy’s letter said, “given that a proportion of these ostriches were infected with avian influenza (H5N1) last year, we believe there is significant value in studying this population, for several reasons.”

    In a follow-up letter in July, Kenndey urged the CFIA to delay the cull and proposed immediate collaboration between the CFIA, Canadian researchers and the U.S. National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

    Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator for the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, offered the farm’s owners the option of relocating the birds to his ranch in Florida, but the offer was turned down, according to Canada’s national public broadcaster CBC. 

    The CFIA said it would compensate the farm owners for the value of the animals, paying up to $2,200 per bird once supporting documentation was completed.

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  • Sick Canada Geese in El Dorado County, wildlife experts confirm bird flu arrives with migration

    The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has confirmed at least two cases of avian flu in birds found at Cameron Park Lake in El Dorado County. It’s a popular spot for Canada Geese as migration begins for these birds and others.Launi Varbell, who walks the lake daily, has noticed more geese recently arriving. “I’ve been videoing them because they’re big clusters of them,” she said. “They’re gorgeous. I love them.” Leslie Ackerman from California Wildlife Encounters has been monitoring the situation closely. “I tend to look for ones that are isolated; there’s one over there by himself,” Ackerman said. Ackerman is an experienced wildlife rescuer and noted that they are finding more sick and dying birds than usual. “We found 14 birds, five which were already dead. And the rest I’ve actually had to euthanize,” she said. “It’s been hard hit out here.”Ackerman recorded a video of a sick goose showing flu symptoms, such as spinning in a circle. She said there are other signs too.”Very lethargic. They tend to have neurological issues where they wobble, their head swivels,” Ackerman said. “We have received two Canada Geese carcasses from Cameron Park Lake, and the preliminary results show avian influenza,” said Peter Tira with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.Tira explained that the flu first appeared in wild birds in Northern California in 2022. “Those birds, some of them are diseased, and they bring that in with them. They’re social. They congregate in large flocks. And so it spreads,” Tira said.Ackerman added, “You can see how well it spreads because there’s so many all congregated together.” Wildlife experts anticipate finding more sick geese as more flocks arrive for fall migration. “These guys are healthy, and hopefully they stay that way,” Ackerman said.The Department of Fish and Wildlife reports that the outbreak currently is confined to El Dorado County, with no avian flu deaths reported in Sacramento or Yolo Counties. Experts advise not to touch dead or unusual-acting birds and to inform park management or contact Wildlife Encounters or the Department of Fish and Wildlife. While the risk to humans is minimal, it is important to prevent the spread to other animals or pets.To report a dead or dying animal, call 916-358-2790.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

    CAMERON PARK, Calif. —

    The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has confirmed at least two cases of avian flu in birds found at Cameron Park Lake in El Dorado County. It’s a popular spot for Canada Geese as migration begins for these birds and others.

    Launi Varbell, who walks the lake daily, has noticed more geese recently arriving.

    “I’ve been videoing them because they’re big clusters of them,” she said. “They’re gorgeous. I love them.”

    Leslie Ackerman from California Wildlife Encounters has been monitoring the situation closely.

    “I tend to look for ones that are isolated; there’s one over there by himself,” Ackerman said.

    Ackerman is an experienced wildlife rescuer and noted that they are finding more sick and dying birds than usual.

    “We found 14 birds, five which were already dead. And the rest I’ve actually had to euthanize,” she said. “It’s been hard hit out here.”

    Ackerman recorded a video of a sick goose showing flu symptoms, such as spinning in a circle.

    She said there are other signs too.

    “Very lethargic. They tend to have neurological issues where they wobble, their head swivels,” Ackerman said.

    “We have received two Canada Geese carcasses from Cameron Park Lake, and the preliminary results show avian influenza,” said Peter Tira with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

    Tira explained that the flu first appeared in wild birds in Northern California in 2022.

    “Those birds, some of them are diseased, and they bring that in with them. They’re social. They congregate in large flocks. And so it spreads,” Tira said.

    Ackerman added, “You can see how well it spreads because there’s so many all congregated together.”

    Wildlife experts anticipate finding more sick geese as more flocks arrive for fall migration. “These guys are healthy, and hopefully they stay that way,” Ackerman said.

    The Department of Fish and Wildlife reports that the outbreak currently is confined to El Dorado County, with no avian flu deaths reported in Sacramento or Yolo Counties.

    Experts advise not to touch dead or unusual-acting birds and to inform park management or contact Wildlife Encounters or the Department of Fish and Wildlife. While the risk to humans is minimal, it is important to prevent the spread to other animals or pets.

    To report a dead or dying animal, call 916-358-2790.

    See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

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  • As Minnesota sees rise in bird flu, grocers say they don’t expect it to impact Thanksgiving plans

    Minnesota is seeing a resurgence in bird flu cases this fall. The virus has infected thousands of turkeys and chickens in eight counties over just the last few weeks.

    “We are trying to figure it out, for sure. I tell you, it’s so disheartening,” said Jake Vlaminck, president of the Minnesota Turkey Growers Association.

    Vlaminck owns and operates Fahlun Farms near Lake Lillian. When his turkeys first got avian influenza a few years ago, he installed lasers to keep away ducks and geese — birds that spread the illness. That seemed to be working until last week, when his father-in-law noticed gulls on the property. 

    “He said he saw them on the roof of the barn. He scared them away. That was on a Monday morning. Come Wednesday morning, our birds started feeling sick,” said Vlaminck. 

    By Friday, they tested positive for bird flu, and so did one of his neighbors’ barns. All the turkeys needed to be put down to stop the spread. 

    “On the first site, we had to depopulate, it was about 33,000 birds. The other site we depopulated, we are closer to 38,000,” said Vlaminck. “Unfortunately, us farmers, we are no better off now than we were 10 years ago.”

    From a consumer standpoint, Thanksgiving is still a month and a half away, but grocery stores don’t anticipate this latest outbreak will impact prices or supply.

    “Last year they said the same thing and it didn’t affect us at all,” said Mark Alger, the meat manager at Marketplace Foods in Watertown. 

    In a couple of weeks, the first holiday turkeys will start arriving and he’s not expecting problems.

    “We’ve got Butterball. We’ve got Best Choice, we’ve got Jennie-O,” said Alger. “It’s a busy time of the year, the holidays.”

    It’ll also be a busy time for Vlaminck, as he works to get his numbers back up while pushing for a solution.

    “The USDA needs to come up with a vaccine strategy and figure out what’s the best way to protect all the poultry in the U.S., protect our food supply, and still make sure we can have foreign trade,” said Vlaminck. 

    The USDA wants to remind people that turkey bought in grocery stores is safe to eat. 

    John Lauritsen

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  • Brickbat: Head in the Sand

    Katie Pasitney and her mother, owners of the Universal Ostrich Farm in British Columbia, were arrested for defying a Canadian Food Inspection Agency order to leave their farm and surrender their birds as part of a response to a bird flu outbreak. The agency fears the disease could spread, so it plans to cull nearly 400 birds. The farmers have resisted, claiming the remaining ostriches are immune. The case took a turn when the Secwepemc Signatory Tribe declared the property unceded land and issued its own cease and desist to protect the animals and land. The case will now go to the Supreme Court of Canada, which halted the cull in the meantime.

    The post Brickbat: Head in the Sand appeared first on Reason.com.

    Charles Oliver

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  • Endangered whooping crane dies of bird flu at Wisconsin wildlife refuge

    The International Crane Foundation announced Monday that Ducky, an endangered female whooping crane the foundation planned to release into the wilds of Wisconsin this fall, died on Thursday after becoming infected with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, a strain of avian flu.

    Foundation officials said in a news release that Ducky’s death marks the first time the strain has killed a whooping crane.

    Only about 700 wild whooping cranes are left in North America, according to the foundation. Ducky’s death translates to a 1% decline in the eastern migratory population, which stands at fewer than 70 birds.

    “We are deeply saddened by the loss of Ducky,” Kim Boardman, the foundation’s birds curator, said in the release. “Each Whooping Crane is invaluable — not only to our organization, but to the survival of the entire species.”

    Ducky hatched in May and was part of the Baraboo-based foundation’s breeding and reintroduction program. She was reared by foundation staff outfitted in crane costumes in an effort to prevent her from imprinting on humans, boosting her chances of survival in the wild. She was among a group of eight cranes set to be released into the Horicon National Wildlife Refuge in October.

    Ducky, a female whooping crane chick, stands in an enclosure at the International Crane Foundation in Baraboo, Wis., Aug. 28, 2025.

    Hannah Jones/International Crane Foundation via AP


    Dr. Diana Boon, the foundation’s director of conservation medicine, told The Associated Press in a telephone interview that Ducky’s group has been at the refuge since August, acclimating to the area and learning survival behavior. Ducky became sick early last week, becoming lethargic and stumbling before she finally died.

    Boon speculated that Ducky may have come into contact with an infected bird or through environmental exposure to the HPAI virus as she explored the refuge. Wild birds, including waterfowl such as ducks, geese and swans, can carry the virus, often without showing symptoms, and shed it through feces, which in turn can contaminate water sources.

    Staff at the marsh have taken to wearing personal protective equipment beneath their crane costumes and are keeping their distance from the rest of Ducky’s group to avoid getting sick, but so far none of the other chicks have shown any symptoms, Boon said. Foundation spokesperson Ryan Michalesko said staff members will continue to monitor the birds but still hope to release them sometime later this year.

    Avian flu killed several thousand sandhill cranes in Indiana earlier this year.

    The International Crane Foundation was founded in 1973. It works to protect whooping cranes around the globe through a network of experts in 50 countries.

    CBS Minnesota

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  • 4 more turkey farms in Minnesota hit by bird flu, officials report




































    How Minnesota’s turkey farmers are fighting bird flu



    How Minnesota’s turkey farmers are fighting bird flu

    02:28

    Avian influenza has been found in flocks at four more turkey farms in Minnesota, according to animal health officials. This comes mere weeks after officials last reported the spread of the disease. 

    The H5N1 virus, colloquially known as bird flu, has been found in flocks at commercial turkey farms in Le Sueur, Blue Earth and Stearns counties, the Minnesota Board of Animal Health website states. More than 70,000 birds are believed to be affected. 

    Earlier this month, the board said it had detected the virus in a Redwood County flock. It was the first time bird flu had been detected in Minnesota since April 23. 

    Turkey farmers say they are hopeful a vaccine could be available in the next year or two. 

    Minnesota is the nation’s top turkey producer, and the USDA has said turkey remains safe to eat. 

    A nationwide bird flu outbreak that began at the end of 2024 and spread into 2025 sent egg prices soaring and resulted in the first human death linked to the virus in the United States. 

    Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz in January approved more than $1 million in state lottery money to research bird flu in wildlife. Two months later, he promised “a unified front around biosecurity and protection of our agricultural business and the health of Minnesotans.” 

    Note: The video above originally aired Sept. 18, 2025.

    Alicia Esteban

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  • Endangered whooping crane dies of avian flu at Wisconsin wildlife refuge

    MADISON, Wis. — Ducky is dead.

    The International Crane Foundation announced Monday that Ducky, an endangered female whooping crane the foundation planned to release into the wilds of Wisconsin this fall, died on Thursday after becoming infected with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, a strain of avian flu.

    Foundation officials said in a news release that Ducky’s death marks the first time the strain has killed a whooping crane.

    Only about 700 wild whooping cranes are left in North America, according to the foundation. Ducky’s death translates to a 1% decline in the eastern migratory population, which stands at fewer than 70 birds.

    “We are deeply saddened by the loss of Ducky,” Kim Boardman, the foundation’s birds curator, said in the release. “Each Whooping Crane is invaluable — not only to our organization, but to the survival of the entire species.”

    Ducky hatched in May and was part of the Baraboo-based foundation’s breeding and reintroduction program. She was reared by foundation staff outfitted in crane costumes in an effort to prevent her from imprinting on humans, boosting her chances of survival in the wild. She was among a group of eight cranes set to be released into the Horicon National Wildlife Refuge in October.

    Diana Boon, the foundation’s director of conservation medicine, told The Associated Press in a telephone interview that Ducky’s group has been at the refuge since August acclimating to the area and learning survival behavior. Ducky became sick early last week, becoming lethargic and stumbling before she finally died.

    Boon speculated that Ducky may have come into contact with an infected bird or through environmental exposure to the HPAI virus as she explored the refuge. Wild birds, including waterfowl such as ducks, geese and swans, can carry the virus, often without showing symptoms, and shed it through feces, which in turn can contaminate water sources.

    Staff at the marsh have taken to wearing personal protective equipment beneath their crane costumes and are keeping their distance from the rest of Ducky’s group to avoid getting sick, but so far none of the other chicks have shown any symptoms, Boon said. Foundation staff planned to meet Monday afternoon to decide whether to go ahead with releasing them as planned.

    Avian flu killed several thousand sandhill cranes in Indiana earlier this year.

    The International Crane Foundation was founded in 1973. It works to protect whooping cranes around the globe through a network of experts in 50 countries.

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  • As bird flu makes its return in Minnesota, turkey farmers hinge hopes on vaccine

    Earlier this week, a turkey flock in Redwood County, Minnesota, tested positive for bird flu. It’s the first positive test among commercial birds since April, and it has turkey farmers on alert.

    There are nearly 10,000 turkeys inside the grower barn at Fahlun Farms in Kandiyohi County.

    Jake Vlaminck is the owner. Just a few years ago his entire farm sat empty after avian influenza forced him to eliminate his entire flock.

    “Talk about seeing grown men cry. All the guys that work out here they raise these turkeys, they know they’re going for meat. We want them to be useful animals and to see them go to waste is just heartbreaking,” said Vlaminck.

    To keep that from happening again, he installed lasers that keeps ducks and geese away from his barns during fall migration. Migratory birds are the main spreaders of bird flu.

    “I was so happy with how that was working that I doubled down and got that one on the windmill tower,” said Vlaminck. “We’ve installed about 200 of these lasers throughout Minnesota now at different sites. And it really has had an impact in keeping the virus away. It’s been positive.”

    He said it’s cut avian influenza cases by nearly 50% in recent years. But lasers alone may not be enough.

    A year ago Vlaminck says a majority of Minnesota turkey farmers weren’t interested in an avian influenza vaccine for their birds. Now, he says, that mindset has changed.

    As president of Minnesota Turkey Growers Association, he and 15 other farmers recently traveled to Washington to meet with lawmakers and to push for a vaccine.

    “It’s going to be a while. The first step is we have to figure out what that strategy would be, what would it look like. That’s something that will have to come from the USDA,” said Vlaminck.

    He believes a vaccine could be available in the next year or two. Until then, he’ll rely on lasers and biosecurity to protect his birds.

    “Turkey is a big economic engine for Minnesota. So, it’s not just the farmer on the farm it’s also the people who process it. It’s the people who make the feed, grow the crops, all the people in-between who fix the trucks and make sure everything stays running,” said Vlaminck.

    Minnesota is the nation’s top turkey producer, and the USDA said it is safe to eat. In recent years there have also been cases of avian influenza in dairy cows, but those cases have not been fatal, and milk is safe to consume.

    John Lauritsen

    John Lauritsen is an Emmy award-winning reporter from Montevideo, Minn. He joined WCCO-TV in late-July of 2007. Two days after he started, the Interstate 35W bridge collapsed.

    John Lauritsen

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  • With first detection since April, Minnesota’s battle with bird flu resumes




































    Meet the University of Minnesota students fighting against bird flu



    Meet the University of Minnesota students fighting against bird flu

    02:17

    Nearly half a year after the state’s last detection of the virus, avian influenza has been found in a southern Minnesota turkey flock, according to animal health officials.

    The Redwood County flock “showed signs of increased mortality” over the weekend, the Minnesota Board of Animal Health said. Testing confirmed the presence of the H5N1 virus, colloquially known as bird flu.

    This is the first time the virus has been detected in Minnesota since April 23.

    “Animal health officials and [the] industry have been working hard over the summer to eliminate the virus from quarantined sites so the state could officially declare freedom of the disease on Aug. 25, 2025,” the board said. “This detection resets Minnesota’s response teams and will draw responders back into the fight against avian influenza this fall.”

    Earlier this month, the United States Department of Agriculture declared Minnesota’s dairy herds are currently unaffected by the bird flu virus after months of sampling. The virus was found in a dairy herd in March.  

    A nationwide bird flu outbreak that began at the end of 2024 and spread into 2025 sent egg prices soaring and resulted in the first human death linked to the virus in the United States. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz in January approved more than $1 million in state lottery money to research bird flu in wildlife. Two months later, he promised “a unified front around biosecurity and protection of our agricultural business and the health of Minnesotans.”

    The Board of Animal Health said Wednesday “the risk to the public from this virus remains low currently.”

    Note: The video above originally aired April 1, 2025.

    Anthony Bettin

    Anthony Bettin is a web producer at CBS Minnesota. He primarily covers breaking news and sports, with a focus on the Minnesota Vikings.

    Anthony Bettin

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  • New Yorkers question U.S. readiness for health crises | Long Island Business News

    THE BLUEPRINT:

    • 44% of New Yorkers say the U.S. is unprepared for future health crises.

    • 77% are concerned about infectious diseases such as measles, while 75% worry about bird flu.

    • 67% worry about affording healthcare for themselves and their families.

    • 61% trust government vaccine decisions; fewer trust chronic disease guidance.

    New Yorkers worry about the next public health crisis, with 44 percent saying they don’t believe the U.S. is prepared. That’s according to the latest Mount Sinai South Nassau “Truth in Medicine” public health poll, which was released Tuesday.

    Among those surveyed, 40 percent said the nation is prepared.

    Still, a large majority worry about infectious diseases, with 77 percent citing measles, 75 percent bird flu and 65 percent the new COVID-19 variants.

    “It’s not surprising that confidence in whether we are prepared for the next public health crisis has eroded,” Dr. Aaron Glatt, chair of the Department of Medicine and Chief of Infectious Diseases at Mount Sinai South Nassau, said in a news release about the poll’s findings.

    “Science has become politicized and the divisions we see across the country have an impact,” Glatt added. “However, healthcare providers and researchers remain committed to evidence-based study and reporting.”

    The poll surveyed 600 adults on Long Island and New York City. Sponsored by FourLeaf Federal Credit Union, the poll was conducted from July 13-20 over landlines and cell phones.

    Vaccine safety, accessible mental health services and care, addressing childhood obesity, treatment for substance abuse, and reducing reliance on processed foods all play key roles in improving the population’s overall health and wellness, respondents said. The poll also looked at access to and affording health insurance coverage.

    Vaccine safety

    “Immunization is key to primary health care and paramount to the prevention and control of infectious disease outbreaks,” Glatt said.

    “Vaccines have proven that they are worth the investment to make them and the health insurance costs to cover them, as they are the safest, most effective way to protect the public from many preventable life-threatening diseases,” Glatt added. “I strongly encourage everyone to follow up with their physicians to get the recommended vaccines at the recommended times.”

    Meanwhile, 61 percent said they trust government agencies to make important decisions about vaccines, and 45 percent said they trust government to make important decisions about medical research. Just 38 percent said they trust government recommendations to prevent chronic diseases.

    According to the World Health Organization, vaccines can prevent more than 30 life-threatening diseases and infections, and 3.5 million to 5 million deaths every year, from diseases like diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), influenza and measles.

    Health insurance

    The poll also looked at access to health insurance.

    The findings come at a time when New York is preparing major changes to its Essential Plan due to $7.5 billion in federal cuts. To preserve coverage for 1.3 million residents, the state said it will overhaul the plan and tighten income eligibility, removing about 450,000 people. The changes are expected to take effect in mid-2026.

    In the poll, 67 percent expressed concern about affording health care for themselves and their family. And 65 percent said they believe government should play a role in ensuring that everyone has access to affordable healthcare.

    Affordable, accessible health insurance is vital to primary care and crisis preparedness, experts say. The American Hospital Association links insurance to lower death rates, better outcomes and higher productivity.

    Just 8 percent of poll respondents were uninsured. Meanwhile, 36 percent had private coverage, 17 percent were insured through the Affordable Care Act and 25 percent had Medicare, Medicaid or both.

    Overall satisfaction is high among insured respondents, with 80 percent satisfied with their coverage and 76 percent satisfied with prescription drug costs.

    Among those without health insurance, 49 percent said it is too expensive, 26 percent said their employer does not offer it, 15 percent said they don’t need it, and 6 percent didn’t know how to get it.

    Affordability of health insurance concerns 67 percent of respondents, many of whom worry about covering healthcare costs for themselves and their families. As a result, 65 percent support government involvement to ensure access to affordable health insurance.

    “No one is immune to injuries or illnesses,” Dr. Adhi Sharma, president of Mount Sinai South Nassau, said in the news release. “Health insurance provides security and peace of mind in the event of a serious illness. It also plays an important role in preventive care.”

    Those needing help with health coverage are encouraged to contact the New York State Department of Health.

     

     


    Adina Genn

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  • Minnesota dairy herds are




































    Woman who bought guns for Burnsville first responder shooter will be sentenced, and more headlines



    Woman who bought guns for Burnsville first responder shooter will be sentenced, and more headlines

    04:35

    Minnesota’s dairy herds have been declared to be currently unaffected by the bird flu virus, the United States Department of Agriculture reported after months of sampling. 

    The declaration means Minnesota’s Department of Agriculture will only have to test milk samples once every two months instead of monthly. However, there will still be restrictions regarding moving animals between states. 

    Back in February, the MDA and the Minnesota Board of Animal Health started checking for the H5N1 virus, also known as the avian influenza A virus, in both dairy herds and poultry flocks to help prevent its spread. The bird flu, as it is also known, is highly contagious and can be spread from wild birds to domestic poultry and other animals. 

    While one case of the virus was found in a dairy herd in March, no other cases have been found. That case was the first time H5N1 was found in a dairy herd since June of last year. 

    The monitoring will continue until all 50 states reach the status of “unaffected.” Currently, the agency says herds are affected in Texas, Arizona, California, Nevada and Idaho. 

    Both Wisconsin and Iowa are listed under “Provisional Unaffected,” meaning they are still going through milk testing to determine if the state’s herds are unaffected.

    If H5N1 is found in a herd, a case manager will help the farm with responding, including quarantining and follow-up testing, according to the USDA. 

    Krystal Frasier

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  • Bird Flu Has Been Found in a U.S. Pig for the First Time

    Bird Flu Has Been Found in a U.S. Pig for the First Time

    NEW YORK — A pig at an Oregon farm was found to have bird flu, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Wednesday. It’s the first time the virus has been detected in U.S. swine and raises concerns about bird flu’s potential to become a human threat.

    The infection happened at a backyard farm in Crook County, in the center of the state, where different animals share water and are housed together. Last week, poultry at the farm were found to have the virus, and testing this week found that one of the farm’s five pigs had become infected.

    The farm was put under quarantine and all five pigs were euthanized so additional testing could be done. It’s not a commercial farm, and U.S. agriculture officials said there is no concern about the safety of the nation’s pork supply.

    But finding bird flu in a pig raises worries that the virus may be hitting a stepping stone to becoming a bigger threat to people, said Jennifer Nuzzo, a Brown University pandemic researcher.

    Read More: We Are Not Safe from Bird Flu Until We Protect Farmworkers

    Pigs can be infected with multiple types of flu, and the animals can play a role in making bird viruses better adapted to humans, she explained. The 2009 H1N1 flu pandemic had swine origins, Nuzzo noted.

    “If we’re trying to stay ahead of this virus and prevent it from becoming a threat to the broader public, knowing if it’s in pigs is crucial,” Nuzzo said.

    The USDA has conducted genetic tests on the farm’s poultry and has not seen any mutations that suggest the virus is gaining an increased ability to spread to people. That indicates the current risk to the public remains low, officials said.

    A different strain of the bird flu virus has been reported in pigs outside the U.S. in the past, and it did not trigger a human pandemic.

    “It isn’t a one-to-one relationship, where pigs get infected with viruses and they make pandemics,” said Troy Sutton, a Penn State researcher who studies flu viruses in animals.

    Read More: How to Stop Bird Flu From Becoming the Next Pandemic

    This version of bird flu—known as Type A H5N1—has been spreading widely in the U.S. among wild birds, poultry, cows, and a number of other animals. Its persistence increases the chances that people will be exposed and potentially catch it, officials say.

    It isn’t necessarily surprising that a pig infection was detected, given that so many other animals have had the virus, experts said.

    The Oregon pig infection “is noteworthy, but does it change the calculation of the threat level? No it doesn’t,” Sutton said. If the virus starts spreading more widely among pigs and if there are ensuing human infections, “then we’re going to be more concerned.”

    So far this year, nearly 40 human cases have been reported—in California, Colorado, Washington, Michigan, Texas, and Missouri—with mostly mild symptoms, including eye redness, reported. All but one of the people had been to contact with infected animals.

    MIKE STOBBE/AP

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  • The US Is Loading Up on Bird Flu Vaccine

    The US Is Loading Up on Bird Flu Vaccine

    Amid a US outbreak of avian influenza in poultry flocks and dairy cattle, the federal government on Friday announced $72 million in funding to three vaccine manufacturers to expand the production of bird flu vaccines for humans, in the event that they are needed.

    The H5N1 virus has affected millions of wild and commercial birds nationwide, and in March it made the jump to dairy cows for the first time. As the number of affected animals grows, so does the concern for spread to people. In the past, H5N1 has had a high mortality rate in humans, and scientists are monitoring the virus closely to determine whether it poses a pandemic risk. The US government has a stockpile of approved H5N1 vaccines, but today’s awards, which will go to CSL Seqirus, GSK, and Sanofi, will double that number.

    “We do expect that we will have a total of just over 10 million doses filled and finished by the end of the first quarter of calendar year 2025,” said David Boucher, director of infectious disease preparedness and response at the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, in a press briefing on Friday.

    Moderna, Pfizer, and GSK are also working on mRNA vaccines for bird flu, but those need to go through human testing and be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration before they could be used.

    This year, 16 people in the US have been infected with bird flu. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the latest two cases, both in California, Thursday evening. The individuals are farm workers who had contact with infected dairy cows at two facilities in the Central Valley, the epicenter of the state’s cattle outbreak. Both had mild symptoms, including eye redness, and are being treated with antiviral medication. Neither reported respiratory symptoms or were hospitalized.

    Nirav Shah, the CDC’s principal deputy director, said the new cases do not change the agency’s risk assessment for the general public, which continues to be low. “Finding these two cases was not unexpected,” he said during Friday’s briefing. “As there are more herds that test positive, there are more workers who are exposed, and where there are more workers who are exposed, the chances of human infection increase.”

    Both California cases are thought to be instances of animal-to-human spread, with no known link or contact between the two. California health officials are following up with close contacts of the workers, including household members that are also dairy workers.

    In the coming days, the CDC says it will do additional testing on the virus samples, including genetic sequencing to monitor for any changes in the virus. Scientists are particularly interested in whether the virus is developing new mutations that could make human-to-human transmission more likely. The agency says there is no evidence that the virus can spread from person to person at this time.

    Of the 16 confirmed human cases, six have been linked to exposure to sick or infected dairy cows, while nine had exposure to infected poultry. The source of infection for a case in Missouri has not been determined.

    Emily Mullin

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  • Dozens of Zoo Tigers Die After Contracting Bird Flu in Vietnam

    Dozens of Zoo Tigers Die After Contracting Bird Flu in Vietnam

    HANOI, Vietnam — More than a dozen tigers were incinerated after the animals contracted bird flu at a zoo in southern Vietnam, officials said.

    State media VNExpress cited a caretaker at Vuon Xoai zoo in Bien Hoa city saying the animals were fed with raw chicken bought from nearby farms. The panther and 20 tigers, including several cubs, weighed between 10 and 120 kilograms (20 and 265 pounds) when they died. The bodies were incinerated and buried on the premises.

    “The tigers died so fast. They looked weak, refused to eat and died after two days of falling sick,” said zoo manager Nguyen Ba Phuc.

    Samples taken from the tigers tested positive for H5N1, the virus that causes bird flu.

    The virus was first identified in 1959 and grew into a widespread and highly lethal menace to migratory birds and domesticated poultry. It has since evolved, and in recent years H5N1 was detected in a growing number of animals ranging from dogs and cats to sea lions and polar bears.

    In cats, scientists have found the virus attacking the brain, damaging and clotting blood vessels and causing seizures and death.

    More than 20 other tigers were isolated for monitoring. The zoo houses some 3,000 other animals including lions, bears, rhinos, hippos, and giraffes.

    Read More: A New Bird Flu Death Is Making Experts Uneasy

    The 30 staff members who were taking care of the tigers tested negative for bird flu and were in normal health condition, VNExpress reported. Another outbreak also occurred at a zoo in nearby Long An province, where 27 tigers and 3 lions died within a week in September, the newspaper said.

    Unusual flu strains that come from animals are occasionally found in people. Health officials in the United States said Thursday that two dairy workers in California were infected—making 16 total cases detected in the country in 2024.

    “The deaths of 47 tigers, three lions, and a panther at My Quynh Safari and Vuon Xoai Zoo amid Vietnam’s bird flu outbreak are tragic and highlight the risks of keeping wild animals in captivity,” PETA Senior Vice President Jason Baker said in a statement sent to The Associated Press.

    “The exploitation of wild animals also puts global human health at risk by increasing the likelihood of another pandemic,” Baker said.

    Bird flu has caused hundreds of deaths around the world, the vast majority of them involving direct contact between people and infected birds.

    HAU DINH/AP

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  • Bird flu kills 47 tigers, 3 lions and a panther in Vietnam zoos, state media reports

    Bird flu kills 47 tigers, 3 lions and a panther in Vietnam zoos, state media reports

    Forty-seven tigers, three lions and a panther have died in zoos in south Vietnam due to the H5N1 bird flu virus, state media said Wednesday.

    The deaths occurred in August and September at the private My Quynh safari park in Long An province and the Vuon Xoai zoo in Dong Nai, near Ho Chi Minh City, the official Vietnam News Agency (VNA) reported.

    According to test results from the National Centre for Animal Health Diagnosis, the animals died “because of H5N1 type A virus,” VNA said.

    The zoos declined to comment when contacted by AFP.

    No zoo staff members in close contact with the animals had experienced respiratory symptoms, the VNA report added.

    Education for Nature Vietnam, an NGO that focuses on wildlife conservation, said there were a total of 385 tigers living in captivity in Vietnam at the end of 2023.

    About 310 are kept at 16 privately owned farms and zoos, while the rest are in state-owned facilities.

    The World Health Organization says that since 2022, there have been increasing reports of deadly outbreaks among mammals caused by influenza viruses, including H5N1.

    It also says H5N1 infections can range from mild to severe in humans, and in some cases can even be fatal.

    Vietnam notified the WHO about a human fatality from the virus in March.

    In 2004, dozens of tigers died from bird flu or were culled at the world’s largest breeding farm in Thailand.

    In the U.S., bird flu has been detected in about 200 dairy herds in 14 states this year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Bird flu has also been found in commercial and backyard flocks and in wild birds.

    Last month, health officials in Missouri said a hospitalized patient was infected with bird flu despite having had no known contact with dairy cows or other animals associated with an ongoing outbreak. At the time, It marked the 14th person in the U.S. sickened with bird flu since March, when the virus was detected in cows, after infecting wild birds and mammals worldwide.

    The CDC says it is using flu surveillance systems to monitor for bird flu activity in people.

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