The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) continues to report widespread detections of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 across multiple states and species. As of mid-2025, the total number of domestic cats infected with H5N1 reached 141, with recent cases reported in New Jersey and Oregon. The virus has been detected in a variety of wild mammals including rabbits in Maricopa, Arizona; red foxes in Colorado and Virginia; raccoons in Texas and New York; skunks in Nevada and Texas; and harbor seals in Massachusetts and Maine. Numerous wild bird species have tested positive, including eagles, hawks, owls, vultures, geese, swans, and terns across states such as Arizona, New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Missouri, Minnesota, California, and others. The USDA also reported H5N1 infections in commercial and game bird facilities, including a commercial game bird facility in Lancaster, Pennsylvania affecting 29,300 birds. Dairy herds continue to be affected, with California reporting 770 infected herds and a national total of 1,077 herds across 17 states since the outbreak began in March 2024. Arizona has five infected dairy herds. The USDA has extended the H5N1 dairy cow testing program until September 30, 2025. Some states, including New York, Montana, and Connecticut, have recently achieved USDA "unaffected" status in their dairy milk testing programs. Internationally, H5N1 outbreaks have been confirmed in commercial poultry in the UK near North Yorkshire and Wales, a turkey farm in Badajoz, Spain, and poultry in Dak Lak, Vietnam. Hong Kong has suspended imports of poultry meat and products from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, due to the outbreak. Concerns have been raised about the USDA's recent changes to the wild bird reporting format, which some experts criticize for lacking detail necessary for public health assessment. The circulating H5N1 strain in the US is identified as Eurasian lineage goose/Guangdong clade 2.3.4.4b genotype B3.13.
Please @USDA @USDA_APHIS reinstate previous HPAI wild bird reporting format. We are talking about public health here. We need to know the type of HPAI and the bird species so we can assess the spread. @WhiteHouse @DrGerryParker
US - USDA reports (partially) 6 unknown wild birds, with probably #H5N1 , collected Dec. 2024 in Obion, Tennessee https://t.co/0XDo8VrCPc h/t Pathfinder #wearesoscreweddept
US - USDA reports (partially) some unknown wild bird, with probably #H5N1 , collected in July in St. Lawrence, New York https://t.co/Syk8NNxSDd h/t Pathfinder #wearesoscreweddept