Global Avian Influenza Developments Prompt Ongoing Surveillance

Recent outbreaks and surveillance data show that avian influenza continues to affect multiple regions, with new cases in animals and humans reported in late 2025 and early 2026.

In December 2025, India documented 11 outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in Kerala. These outbreaks led to the deaths of more than 54,000 birds, and authorities culled approximately 30,000 additional birds to contain the spread.

Saudi Arabia responded to disease outbreaks by imposing a temporary ban on poultry and egg imports from France and Poland. The measure followed recent reports of highly pathogenic avian influenza and Newcastle disease in those countries.

The Pan American Health Organization stated that since 2022, there have been 5,136 outbreaks of avian influenza A(H5N1) in animals across 19 countries and territories in the Americas. In 2025 alone, 508 of these outbreaks were recorded in birds.

What the numbers show

• Over 1,000 dairy cattle herds in 18 US states detected with H5N1 since March 2024
• 75 human H5N1 infections and two deaths reported in the Americas since 2022
• Three human H5N1 cases in the US and one in Mexico were identified in 2025

In the United States, H5N1 infections have been detected in dairy cattle across 18 states since March 2024, affecting more than 1,000 herds. The spread of the virus in livestock has prompted ongoing monitoring by health authorities.

Human cases of avian influenza have also been documented. The Americas reported 75 human H5N1 infections with two fatalities since 2022. In 2025, three cases were identified in the United States and one in Mexico.

On 15 November 2025, the United States confirmed its first human case of influenza A(H5N5). The patient died on 21 November, and authorities reported that no human-to-human transmission was detected in this instance.

In early 2026, infectious disease experts identified H5N1 avian flu as a critical concern, citing its potential to mutate and spread from animals to humans. Reports included suspected cow-to-human transmission, which has led to continued vigilance among public health officials.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.