H5N1

Influenza A (H5N1) virus – also called “H5N1 virus” – is an influenza A virus subtype that occurs mainly in birds, is highly contagious among birds, and can be deadly to them. H5N1 virus does not usually infect people, but infections with these viruses have occurred in humans.

What is Bird Flu (H5N1)?

Bird flu or avian flu is a highly contagious viral infection that is transmitted between birds and on rare occasions, from birds to humans.

Bird Flu (H5N1) Genetics

Bird Flu (H5N1) Prevention

Bird Flu (H5N1) Treatment

Bird Flu (H5N1) Epidemiology

Bird Flu (H5N1) Symptoms

Latest H5N1 News and Research

SHEA calls for continued U.S. partnership with the World Health Organization

The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) wants to emphasize the importance of global partnerships in addressing health threats that impact all of us, as Americans and global citizens. We urge President Trump to reconsider the decision to terminate the U.S. relationship with the World Health Organization (WHO).

21 Jan 2025

Study reveals dangerous mutations in H5N1 bird flu

One of the earliest strains of bird flu isolated from a human in Texas shows a unique constellation of mutations that enable it to more easily replicate in human cells and cause more severe disease in mice compared to a strain found in dairy cattle, researchers from Texas Biomedical Research Institute (Texas Biomed) report in Emerging Microbes & Infections.

16 Jan 2025

Unexpected viral reservoir: influenza A thrives in cattle mammary glands

Researchers uncover how influenza A virus infects dairy cattle, revealing the mammary gland's surprising role in viral replication and transmission through milk.

15 Jan 2025

Study finds certain H5N1 strains in cattle linked to milder human illness; other variants remain a concern

Study reveals that contemporary HPAI H5N1 viruses show reduced replication and immune activation in human lung organoids, potentially explaining milder disease in humans compared to historic strains.

13 Jan 2025

H5N1 bird flu spillover to horses, raises fears of new viral strains

Researchers report the first confirmed cases of H5N1 bird flu in horses, highlighting their role as potential reservoirs for viral reassortment. This groundbreaking study urges increased surveillance to prevent novel influenza epidemics.

5 Jan 2025

Human protein MxA restricts H5N1, but virus mutations raise alarms

Human MxA protein suppresses mammalian H5N1 virus replication, but emerging mutations may enable partial evasion, raising concerns for human transmission.

5 Jan 2025

From ducks to detection: Revolutionizing surveillance in the fight against HPAI

Vaccination drastically reduces avian influenza outbreaks in ducks, but enhanced passive surveillance is crucial for timely and effective detection of the virus.

5 Jan 2025

Predicting H5N1 disease severity based on T cell responses

New research led by scientists at La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) suggests that many people already have immune cells on "stand by" to fight the H5N1 virus, also known as highly pathogenic avian influenza.

2 Jan 2025

Mild avian flu cases in US spark safety warnings for poultry and dairy sectors

Researchers identify 46 mild cases of avian influenza A(H5N1) in U.S. poultry and dairy workers, highlighting low PPE adherence and potential outbreak risks.

2 Jan 2025

Blood cells linked to long-lasting vaccine immunity

When children receive their second measles-mumps-rubella vaccine, around the time they start kindergarten, they gain protection against all three viruses for all or most of their lives.

2 Jan 2025

KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': Francis Collins on supporting NIH and finding common ground

This week, KFF Health News' "What the Health?" presents a conversation with Francis Collins, former National Institutes of Health director and White House science adviser.

2 Jan 2025

Public health experts outline critical steps in handling HPAI H5N1 spread

Highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza A virus (HPAI H5N1) remains a low risk to the general public, and public health experts in the United States believe that available treatments and vaccines, as well as those in development, are sufficient to prevent severe disease.

2 Jan 2025

How America lost control of the bird flu, setting the stage for another pandemic

Keith Poulsen's jaw dropped when farmers showed him images on their cellphones at the World Dairy Expo in Wisconsin in October.

20 Dec 2024

Pregnant women must be prioritized in pandemic vaccination programs

The vast majority of women who contract bird flu during pregnancy and their unborn baby will die from the virus, according to a new study. And the findings stress the importance of early inclusion of pregnant women in public health vaccination programs during pandemics.

19 Dec 2024

Scientists detect rare H5N1 avian flu strain in Australian child after travel to India

A 2.5-year-old returning to Australia from India was infected with a reassortant H5N1 virus, revealing genetic mixing between avian influenza clades and gaps in South Asian surveillance.

18 Dec 2024

Trump’s picks for top health jobs not just team of rivals but ‘team of opponents’

Many of President-elect Donald Trump's candidates for federal health agencies have promoted policies and goals that put them at odds with one another or with Trump's choice to run the Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., setting the stage for internal friction over public health initiatives.

17 Dec 2024

Single mutation in (HPAI) H5N1 influenza virus could increase human transmission risk

A single modification in the protein found on the surface of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 influenza virus currently circulating in U.S. dairy cows could allow for easier transmission among humans, according to new research funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and published today in the journal Science.

9 Dec 2024

Bovine H5N1 influenza shows potential for human adaptation through key mutations

Recent study reveals H5N1 mutations enhancing human receptor binding, highlighting pandemic risks and the need for vigilant surveillance of influenza strains.

9 Dec 2024

How measles, whooping cough, and worse could roar back on RFK Jr.’s watch

The availability of safe, effective covid vaccines less than a year into the pandemic marked a high point in the 300-year history of vaccination, seemingly heralding an age of protection against infectious diseases.

6 Dec 2024

Advanced diagnostic kit developed for detecting highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus

The Diagnostics Development Hub (DxD Hub), a national platform hosted by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, in collaboration with the National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), Japan, and the A*STAR Bioinformatics Institute (A*STAR BII), has successfully developed Steadfast, an advanced diagnostic kit for detecting the highly pathogenic H5N1 Avian Influenza Virus (AIV).

22 Nov 2024

H5N1

Overview

Bird Flu (H5N1) Genetics

Bird Flu (H5N1) Prevention

Bird Flu (H5N1) Treatment

Feature Articles

Bird Flu (H5N1) Epidemiology

Bird Flu (H5N1) Symptoms

Latest H5N1 News and Research

SHEA calls for continued U.S. partnership with the World Health Organization

Study reveals dangerous mutations in H5N1 bird flu

Unexpected viral reservoir: influenza A thrives in cattle mammary glands

Study finds certain H5N1 strains in cattle linked to milder human illness; other variants remain a concern

H5N1 bird flu spillover to horses, raises fears of new viral strains

Human protein MxA restricts H5N1, but virus mutations raise alarms

From ducks to detection: Revolutionizing surveillance in the fight against HPAI

Predicting H5N1 disease severity based on T cell responses

Mild avian flu cases in US spark safety warnings for poultry and dairy sectors

Blood cells linked to long-lasting vaccine immunity

KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': Francis Collins on supporting NIH and finding common ground

Public health experts outline critical steps in handling HPAI H5N1 spread

How America lost control of the bird flu, setting the stage for another pandemic

Pregnant women must be prioritized in pandemic vaccination programs

Scientists detect rare H5N1 avian flu strain in Australian child after travel to India

Trump’s picks for top health jobs not just team of rivals but ‘team of opponents’

Single mutation in (HPAI) H5N1 influenza virus could increase human transmission risk

Bovine H5N1 influenza shows potential for human adaptation through key mutations

How measles, whooping cough, and worse could roar back on RFK Jr.’s watch

Advanced diagnostic kit developed for detecting highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus

Exploring the role of confocal-based high-content imaging in advancing core facilities

Transforming Cardiovascular Care: Insights from Mina Makar at AstraZeneca

Clue's CEO Rhiannon White on the Future of Femtech and PCOS

H5N1

Overview

Feature Articles

Bird Flu (H5N1) Epidemiology

Bird Flu (H5N1) Symptoms

Latest H5N1 News and Research

Exploring the role of confocal-based high-content imaging in advancing core facilities

Transforming Cardiovascular Care: Insights from Mina Makar at AstraZeneca

Clue's CEO Rhiannon White on the Future of Femtech and PCOS

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