Mexico reported its first human case of H5N1 bird flu in a 3-year-old girl (April 7, 2025)

In partnership with

Hi 👋 Headline of this issue: Bird flu could be heading north this spring with fewer federal health officials working to stop it 😥 

Receive Honest News Today

Join over 4 million Americans who start their day with 1440 – your daily digest for unbiased, fact-centric news. From politics to sports, we cover it all by analyzing over 100 sources. Our concise, 5-minute read lands in your inbox each morning at no cost. Experience news without the noise; let 1440 help you make up your own mind. Sign up now and invite your friends and family to be part of the informed.

Sign up today!

International Bird Flu Updates

India:

• India is experiencing one of its worst avian flu outbreaks, with the H5N1 virus detected in over a dozen states. [Source] [Source]

• To control the spread, the government has made registration mandatory for all poultry farms and permitted use of the H9N2 vaccine as a preventive measure. [Source] [Source]

• Experts warn that H5N1 could potentially trigger the next pandemic if not contained effectively, advising caution when consuming poultry products. [Source]

Brazil:

• Brazil has started human trials for its first domestically-developed vaccine against avian influenza, involving 700 volunteers. [Source]

• The vaccine development aims to strengthen Brazil's preparedness against potential bird flu outbreaks impacting human health. [Source]

Mexico/Latin America:

• Mexico has confirmed its first human case of the H5N1 bird flu strain in a child who is in critical condition, raising alarms in the region. [Source] [Source] [Source]

• Peru has also reported its first human H5N1 infection case. [Source] [Source]

• Health authorities are urging vigilance and have implemented prevention measures to curb further spread to humans. [Source]

Europe:

• In Spain, police seized over a tonne of cocaine in a drug bust, indicating the country's efforts to combat illegal narcotics trafficking amid the bird flu crisis. [Source]

• The UK has lifted some localized bird flu restrictions as concerns ease in certain areas, while extending measures in others like Cumbria. [Source] [Source]

Asia:

• South Korea has reported 46 avian flu cases so far this season, a significant increase compared to previous years, prompting intensive containment efforts. [Source] [Source] [Source] [Source]

Latest Developments

• Mexico reported its first human case of H5N1 bird flu in a 3-year-old girl, raising alarms about the virus's ability to spread to humans. [Source]

• Authorities warned that staffing constraints could hamper monitoring and response efforts during peak migration season. Bird flu could be heading north this spring with fewer federal health officials working to stop it. [Source]

• A red fox in Loudoun County, Virginia tested positive for the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain, marking the first such case in the state and highlighting the virus's spread among wildlife. [Source] [Source]

• Multiple U.S. states including Wisconsin, California, and Iowa confirmed new outbreaks in commercial poultry flocks, with some operations culling tens of thousands of birds. [Source] [Source] [Source] [Source]

Scientific Research & Developments

• Researchers identified a rare H5N9 strain in a California duck farm, the first such detection, indicating ongoing viral mutations. [Source]

• A study modeled potential future evolution of H5N1, warning of increased vaccine escape risk and zoonotic potential if the virus accumulates certain mutations. [Source]

• A puzzling study found no evidence of viral RNA in milk from infected cows, contradicting assumptions about milk safety. Further investigation is underway. [Source] [Source]

Public Health Updates

• In addition to the Mexico human case, animal cases were confirmed across the U.S. in Virginia, Wisconsin, California, and Iowa. [Source] [Source] [Source] [Source] [Source] [Source]

• While human-to-human transmission remains very rare, the virus continues to spread rapidly among wild birds and poultry operations through direct contact and environmental exposure. [Source]

• Health authorities reiterated standard precautions like avoiding contact with sick/dead birds and proper hygiene around poultry. Some areas temporarily suspended small livestock permits as a precaution. [Source] [Source]

Economic Impacts

• The egg supply chain faced further disruptions, with major chains like Denny's implementing temporary price surcharges to offset losses from the outbreaks. Poultry and egg futures saw volatility. [Source] [Source]

• Culling of infected flocks resulted in losses of tens of thousands of birds for some U.S. poultry operations. Experts warned of risks to the upcoming poultry production cycle if the virus continues spreading unchecked. [Source] [Source] [Source]

• While an outright shortage has been avoided so far, consumers faced higher prices and temporary supply constraints for eggs and certain poultry products in impacted regions. [Source]

Wildlife & Pet Safety

• Migratory season increased concerns about virus spread, with calls for greater monitoring of wild bird populations. The Virginia red fox case demonstrated transmission to mammals. [Source] [Source]

• Veterinary and wildlife authorities advised pet owners to prevent contact between their animals and wild birds, and to observe good biosecurity practices on farms with domestic poultry. [Source] [Source]

Stay safe 💗 

Eva