About Avian Flu
Highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 strain has been detected on commercial farms in California and other parts of the United States. The most recent outbreak of the highly transmissible strain of bird flu began in early 2022 and has resulted in the deaths of millions of chickens and turkeys. It has also been detected in cows in the U.S., marine mammals in South America, and other species globally. The CDC has confirmed a handful of human cases in the U.S. and several cases of avian flu in cats on dairy farms. Visit CDC for the current situation summary.
UPDATES:
- March 6, 2025: UC News issues "Your Bird Flu Questions, Answered," an extensive wrap-up of the disease (and UC activities) to date
- March 2025: CDPH statement on "What Veterinarians Need to Know about Bird Flu"
- January 29, 2025: CDFA issued a statement on avian influenza H5N9 strain after it was detected for the first time in California
Questions about Bird Flu and Cats
Read all about Bird Flu in Cats and Your Questions About Cats and Bird Flu Risk, Answered with Dr. Jane Sykes
UC Health Grand Rounds: Avian Flu
The virtual event on February 19, 2025 drew 2,000 attendees to discuss H5N1’s changes, including mammal-to-mammal spread, new species infections, and rising human cases. The one-hour session featured three experts from the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and one from UC Davis Health.
UC Davis Avian Flu Experts In The News
Several UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine veterinarians are actively researching the subject, and the experts are being featured in media throughout the world as the topic continues to grow.
- How to Protect Pets and Backyard Chickens from Bird Flu
Scientific American
March 14, 2025 - Deadly Avian Flu Strain is Spreading Rapidly in Antarctica
Science
March 13, 2025 - Dentro de las Pingüineras Invadidas por la Peste en la Antártida (Inside the Penguins Invaded by the Plague in Antarctica)
El Pais (national newspaper of Spain)
March 13, 2025 - How to Keep Your Pets Safe from the Bird Flu
Rover
March 13, 2025 - Backyard Chickens: Worth the Money, Effort and Potential Risks?
Modesto Bee
March 8, 2025 - Your Questions About Cats and Bird Flu Risk, Answered
Mercury News
March 7, 2025 - H5N1 in Backyard Poultry: What You Need to Know
AAHA Trends
March 7, 2025 - Trump’s Plan to Lower Egg Prices, Explained
Sentient
March 7, 2025 - Your Bird Flu Questions, Answered
UC News
March 6, 2025 - Fact-Check: Backyard Chickens Aren’t Safe From Bird Flu
Sentient
March 5, 2025 - New Avian Flu Plan Hatched by USDA, but Experts Are Wary
Sentient
March 4, 2025 - Bird Flu ‘Not Going Away,’ Experts Warn
Healio
February 28, 2025 - Bird Flu in Cats
WebMD
February 27, 2025 - As Bird Flu Spreads, Feds Might Undercut States by Firing Scientists, Removing Data
Stateline
February 26, 2025 - Killing 166 Million Birds Hasn’t Helped Poultry Farmers Stop H5N1
Los Angeles Times
February 26, 2025 - Trump Administration Takes Aim at Bird Flu. For Now, the Cattle Will Have to Wait
STAT
February 26, 2025 - Could Bird Flu Vaccines Help Tackle High Egg Prices?
CNN
February 25, 2025 - With Avian Flu Flying Around, Is It Safe to Enjoy Eggs?
Mercury News
February 25, 2025 - Bay Area Backyard Chicken Businesses Surge
ABC Bay Area
February 24, 2025 - What Climate Change Means for Bird Flu and the Soaring Price of Eggs
Grist
February 24, 2025 - Which Came First, the Chicken Slaughter or the Egg Shortage?
Washington Post
February 21, 2025 - Harbor Seal Dies from Bird Flu at Massachusetts Zoo
WROR
February 21, 2025 - California Egg Prices at Record High as Bird Flu Decimates Farms
Fresno Bee
February 20, 2025 - Demand for Backyard Chickens in Sacramento Area Rises Amid Spread of Avian Flu
NBC Sacramento
February 20, 2025 - Agtech Startup Predicts Waterfowl Movements to Help Farmers Fight Avian Flu
AgFunder News
February 19, 2025 - Experts Warn of Bird Flu Risks as Virus Spreads Beyond Poultry
ABC Sacramento
February 19, 2025 - Scientists Test Animals for Bird Flu
NBC Nightly News
February 19, 2025 - I Have a Backyard Chicken Flock. Should I Worry About Bird Flu?
A-Z Animals
February 17, 2025 - 2nd Bird Flu Virus Detected in Western US. What Does This Mean for Prevention?
Good Morning America
February 14, 2025 - Acidification Kills H5N1 in Waste Milk, Reducing Risk of Bird Flu
Phys.org
February 13, 2025 - House Cats With Bird Flu Could Pose a Risk to Public Health
KFF Health News
February 10, 2025 - It's Like 'Dead Birds Flying': How Bird Flu Is Spreading in the Wild
NPR
February 7, 2025 - Bird Flu: Are Massive Die-Offs the New Normal?
WTTW (PBS Chicago)
February 4, 2025 - H5 Avian Influenza ‘Breaks All the Rules’
Lake O News
February 3, 2025 - 2025 Bird Flu Update: Trends, Transmission, and Economic Impacts
AAAS SciLine
January 31, 2025 - Bird Flu Could Make Prices, Illness Soar
Baylor Lariat
January 29, 2025 - A New Strain of Bird Flu Is Found on a California Duck Farm
Los Angeles Times
January 28, 2025 - What You Want to Know About Bird Flu but Are Too Afraid to Ask
J. News
January 27, 2025 - FDA Recommends Pet Food Companies Revisit Safety Plans Amid Bird Flu Outbreak
NBC News
January 26, 2025 - How to Keep Your Pets Safe from Bird Flu
NPR
January 21, 2025 - Bird Flu Has Spread to Humans. How Worried Should We Be?
KPFA Radio
January 17, 2025 - AAU Member Universities Lead in Confronting the Challenge of Bird Flu
AAU News
January 10, 2025 - Owner of Two Cats that Died after Drinking H5N1 Recalled Milk Threatens to Sue
Los Angeles Times
January 3, 2025 - Another Raw Pet Food Brand Contaminated with Bird Flu Infects More Cats
NBC News
December 30, 2024 - UC: Protect Livestock, Poultry from Bird Flu
Farm Progress
December 30, 2024 - Raw Food for Pets Is All the Rage. Is the Fad Worth the Risk of Bird Flu, Salmonella?
USA Today
December 30, 2024 - Cats Have More 'Opportunity' to Get Bird Flu: What to Know
Newsweek
December 28, 2024 - How To Protect Your Pet from Bird Flu
Newsweek
December 27, 2024 - Oregon Company Issues Recall After Cat Food Tests Positive for Bird Flu
KCBS Radio
December 26, 2024 - Bird Flu is Tearing Through California’s Dairy Herd. Can it Be Stopped?
Barron’s
December 25, 2024 - Avian Flu Has Hit Dairies So Hard That They’re Calling It ‘Covid for Cows’
New York Times
December 20, 2024 - California Health Officials to Address Response to Bird Flu
NBC Bay Area
December 20, 2024 - Bird Flu in California: An Expert Explains the Risk and How to Avoid the Virus
ABC10 Sacramento
December 19, 2024 - Newsom Declares Bird Flu Emergency in California
Cal Matters
December 19, 2024 - UC Davis Bird Flu Expert Urges Owners of Backyard Chickens to Take Precautions
KTVU (Fox San Francisco)
December 19, 2024 - Bird Flu's Rapid Spread Prompts California to Declare a State of Emergency
USA Today
December 18, 2024 - Newsom Declares Bird Flu Emergency in California as US Confirms 1st Severe Case
KQED (NPR Bay Area)
December 18, 2024 - Egg Shortage Creates Ripple Effect Across the U.S., Impacting Consumers and Restaurants
ABC News
December 18, 2024 - For Wild Animals, the Bird Flu Disaster Is Already Here
New York Times
December 13, 2024 - Cats in L.A. County Die After Drinking Recalled Raw Milk
Los Angeles Times
December 12, 2024 - Is Avian Flu the Next Pandemic?
KQED (NPR Bay Area)
December 5, 2024 - Sales of Raw Milk Halted by State Due to Bird Flu Virus Contamination
The Mercury News
December 4, 2024 - Maverick Operator of California Raw Milk Dairy that Sickened Children Could Have Role in Trump’s FDA
San Luis Obispo Tribune
December 4, 2024 - Yuba City's Feral Chicken Population Could Bring Risk of Disease
North State Public Radio
December 3, 2024 - Despite Warnings from Bird Flu Experts, It’s Business as Usual in California Dairy Country
Los Angeles Times
November 26, 2024 - H5N1 Influenza Vaccines and the Current Outbreak
Georgetown University
(Reflects discussions of the "Pandemic Influenza Vaccines Responding to the H5 Outbreak & Preparing for the Future" webinar featuring Marcella Uhart, Director of the Latin America Program at the UC Davis Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center)
November 25, 2024 - Bird Flu Found in Sample of California Raw Milk
ABC News
November 24, 2024 - Avian Flu Is Spreading, and the Raw Milk Trend Could Make It Worse
Sentient
November 19, 2024 - California Agriculture Faces Significant Losses as Avian Flu Outbreak Spreads
Sacramento Bee
November 18, 2024 - Bird Flu Is Decimating Elephant Seal Colonies
U.S. News & World Report
November 12, 2024 - UC Davis Experts Educate Public and Industry about Avian Flu
UC Davis News
November 11, 2024 - Bird Flu Raising Concerns for Petaluma Dairy Farmers
CBS News
November 9, 2024 - As Wild Birds Begin Migration Through Central California, Poultry Farmers on ‘High Alert’
Sacramento Bee
October 31, 2024 - Bird Flu Hits Central Valley Poultry Farm as Dairy Outbreaks Continue
Ventura County Star
Oct 23, 2024 - Avian Flu Decimates Tulare County Chicken Operation as Thousands of Birds Are Killed
Fresno Bee
Oct 23, 2024 - Avian Flu, Heat Caused ‘Sudden Rise’ in Central California Dairy Cow Deaths
Fresno Bee
Oct 21, 2024 - With Bird Flu Spreading Rapidly Among California Dairy Cows, Will Milk Prices Rise?
Dallas Morning News
October 14, 2024 - How Bird Flu Spreads Among Dairy Cows Remains Mystery
Ag Alert
October 2, 2024 - HPAI Is Spreading in California Dairy Herds
Farm Progress
September 27, 2024 - UPDATE (HPAI Confirmed): CDFA Statement on Possible Introduction of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza at California Dairy Farms
CDFA News
August 30, 2024 - California, Nation’s Largest Milk Producer, Confirms Bird Flu Outbreaks in Three Dairy Cow Herds
STAT
August 29, 2024 - Understanding the Threat of Bird Flu
UC Davis Magazine
August 19, 2024 - Domestic Cats in Colorado Are Dying of Bird Flu
USA Today
August 17, 2024 - Animal Apocalypse: Deadly Bird Flu Infects Hundreds of Species Pole-To-Pole
Mongabay News
August 6, 2024 - Extreme Heat May Have Increased Spread of H5N1 at Poultry Farm
Los Angeles Times
July 16, 2024 - He Reported a Possible H5N1 Outbreak in Dairy Cows. It Took Officials Weeks to Respond
Los Angeles Times
July 12, 2024 - Could Vaccinating Birds, Cows Stop Bird Flu Outbreak?
Healio
June 28, 2024 - Concerns Grow as 'Gigantic' Bird Flu Outbreak Runs Rampant in US Dairy Herds
USA Today
June 16, 2024 - Thailand Beat Avian Flu 20 Years Ago. What Can We Learn from Their Strategies?
NPR
June 14, 2024 - The Bird Flu Virus Adapted to Sea Mammals. It May Not Be Done Yet.
New York Times
June 05, 2024 - Are Pet Dogs and Cats the Weak Link in Bird Flu Surveillance?
Los Angeles Times
May 30, 2024 - Why Scientists Are Concerned About the Latest Transmission of Bird Flu to Cows
PBS
May 15, 2024 - Bird Flu in US Cattle Has Caused Concern Amongst Milk Drinkers
BBC
May 13, 2024 - How Bird Flu Virus Fragments Get into Milk Sold in Stores, and What the Spread of H5N1 in Cows Means for the Dairy Industry and Milk Drinkers
The Conversation
April 25, 2024 - UC Experts Create Map of Avian Flu Spread
UC Davis News
April 25, 2024 - Bird Flu Is Infecting More Mammals. What Does That Mean for Us?
New York Times
April 22, 2024 - Avian Influenza Status Update: From Poultry to Wildlife, UC Davis Tracks 'Unprecedented' Avian Influenza Impacts
UC Davis News
April 16, 2024 - The Next Mass Extinction?
New York Review
April 14, 2024 - Some Experts Worry California Wildlife Could Be Vulnerable to an Avian Flu ‘Apocalypse’
Los Angeles Times
February 25, 2024 - Avian Flu is Devastating Farms in California’s ‘Egg Basket’ as Outbreaks Roil Poultry Industry
Associated Press
January 27, 2024 - Mass Death of Seal Pups Raises Fears of Bird Flu Spreading in Mammals
New Scientist
January 17, 2024 - Avian Flu Is Crippling California Poultry Farms
Los Angeles Times
January 9, 2024