Bird Flu Updates: CDC report indicates increased evidence of bird flu transmission to people(Feb 14, 2025)

Hi 👋 

This is not the most romantic news on Valentines day, but important enough for us to send right away 💌 

A delayed CDC report indicates increased evidence of bird flu transmission to people, asymptomatic and undetected, raising alarm bells about the virus's potential to spread among humans.

More details in today’s bird flu news roundup!

In This Update

• Latest Developments

• Public Health Updates

• Economic Impacts

• Wildlife & Pet Safety

• Looking Ahead

Latest Developments

• The CDC has found evidence that the H5N1 bird flu virus may have silently spread to veterinarians in the US last year, suggesting an undercount of human cases. Three veterinarians tested positive for antibodies despite not showing symptoms. [Source] [Source]

• A delayed CDC report indicates increased evidence of bird flu transmission to people, raising alarm bells about the virus's potential to spread among humans. [Source]

• Some experts believe many mild or asymptomatic bird flu cases in humans are going undetected, complicating efforts to track its spread. [Source] [Source]

Public Health Updates

• While the overall human risk remains low, the CDC and health authorities are closely monitoring for any signs of sustained human-to-human transmission. [Source]

• New cases in poultry have been confirmed in numerous states including Pennsylvania, Nebraska, Iowa, Michigan, and others. [Source] [Source] [Source] [Source] [Source]

• The virus is primarily spreading through wild bird populations and infecting domestic poultry operations upon contact. [Source]

• Potential human cases appear to be from exposure to infected birds, but person-to-person transmission cannot be ruled out based on new evidence. [Source]

Economic Impacts

• Egg prices have skyrocketed due to the culling of millions of egg-laying hens, with prices up to 60% higher than last year in some regions. [Source]

• The poultry industry has taken a major hit, with some farms losing over a million chickens to the virus. [Source]

• Outbreaks have forced mass cullings at multiple large poultry breeding facilities and commercial farms across the country. [Source] [Source]

• Shortages of eggs and poultry meat are being reported in many areas, forcing some consumers to seek alternatives like renting chickens. [Source]

Wildlife & Pet Safety

• Over 300 dead wild birds have been found in Michigan, indicating widespread transmission in those populations. [Source]

• Monitoring and testing of wild bird populations for the virus is underway by wildlife agencies. [Source]

• Hunters are urged to take precautions when handling wild game birds that could be infected. [Source]

Looking Ahead

• Experts warn the outbreak could become the worst on record for the U.S. if not contained soon. [Source]

• Disruptions to the poultry supply chain and elevated prices are expected to persist in the coming months.

We will continue tracking this rapidly evolving situation and provide further updates as they become available. Please feel free to reach out with any other questions.

Stay informed and stay safe ❤️ 

Jennifer