More H5N1 Detections in US Dairy Cows and Poultry; WHO Unveils H5 Surveillance Guide

By Lisa Schnirring

Over the last few days the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has reported four more H5N1 avian flu detections in dairy cattle, two from California and two from Idaho, lifting the national total to 1,009 from 17 states since March 2024.

Also, APHIS has confirmed more H5N1 detections in poultry flocks from two states. They include two more detections in live bird markets in New York’s Queens County and a backyard location in Jefferson County. The virus was also detected at two locations in New Mexico, including a poultry farm in Curry County and a backyard flock in Roosevelt County.

WHO H5 surveillance guidance, USDA livestock disease funding

In other H5N1 developments, the World Health Organization (WHO) on April 11 released new guidance on surveillance for human infections with H5 avian influenza viruses.  It said the goal is to rapidly detect and characterize any human H5 infections to allow prompt response actions, assess trends and health risks, and guide global flu pandemic preparedness.

The group emphasized that under the International Health Regulations, countries are required to notify the WHO within 24 hours of any lab-confirmed human case involving a new subtype, based on the WHO case definition of being unusual or unexpected and potentially posing a serious public health impact. The new guidance also included a data reporting guide.

In a related US development, the USDA’s APHIS last week announced $15.3 million in funding for research projects to enhance preparedness, early detection, and rapid response to the diseases that threaten US livestock. The funding will support 68 projects led by 24 state agriculture departments, five tribal entities, 35 universities, three livestock groups, and one federal partner. One third of the funding is geared toward enhanced biosecurity.