H5N1 Bird Flu Outbreak Escalates: 71 Human Cases, Urgent Safety Measures for Farms and Public Health
Published: January 16, 2026
Duration: 3:22
Bird Flu SOS: Urgent H5N1 News & Safety
[Host, urgent but steady tone]: Welcome to Bird Flu SOS: Urgent H5N1 News & Safety. I'm your host, and today we have a critical update. As of January 2026, the H5N1 bird flu virus, clade 2.3.4.4b, rages out of control in wild birds, poultry, and U.S. dairy cows, with 71 confirmed human cases since 2024, including the first U.S. death in Louisiana, per CDC data. STAT News reports nearly 185 million birds culled since 2022, and GISAID confirms ongoing U.S. spread in animals and farm workers as of January 9, 2026. This isn't...
[Host, urgent but steady tone]: Welcome to Bird Flu SOS: Urgent H5N1 News & Safety. I'm your host, and today we have a critical update. As of January 2026, the H5N1 bird flu virus, clade 2.3.4.4b, rages out of control in wild birds, poultry, and U.S. dairy cows, with 71 confirmed human cases since 2024, including the first U.S. death in Louisiana, per CDC data. STAT News reports nearly 185 million birds culled since 2022, and GISAID confirms ongoing U.S. spread in animals and farm workers as of January 9, 2026. This isn't...