H5N1 Bird Flu Spreads Globally: 991 Human Cases, 48% Fatality Rate Spark Pandemic Fears in 2026
Published: January 19, 2026
Duration: 3:21
Welcome to H5N1 Global Scan: Avian Flu Worldwide. Im Dan from Quiet Please, bringing you the latest on this spreading threat. Today, we dive into the global impact of H5N1 bird flu, the clade 2.3.4.4b strain thats ravaged wild birds, poultry, and mammals since 2020.
Starting with a continental breakdown. In the Americas, PAHO reports 5136 animal outbreaks across 19 countries since 2022, with 508 in birds in 2025 alone, mainly in the US and Canada. Human cases total 75 since 2022, including three in the US and one in Mexico this year, plus rare H5N2 and H5N5 infections. Europe saw 2896 HPAI...
Starting with a continental breakdown. In the Americas, PAHO reports 5136 animal outbreaks across 19 countries since 2022, with 508 in birds in 2025 alone, mainly in the US and Canada. Human cases total 75 since 2022, including three in the US and one in Mexico this year, plus rare H5N2 and H5N5 infections. Europe saw 2896 HPAI...